Eddie Jones’ two-year contract extension as England head coach means he will now leave the position in 2021.
The Australian was due to step down after the 2019 World Cup but will now work alongside his eventual successor, who the Rugby Football Union hope to appoint by 2020, until his departure.
Here, RUCK takes looks at 10 of the candidates to fill the role.
1. Mark McCall
The former Ireland international has overseen the greatest period in Saracens’ history.
Since taking over at Allianz Park, the Northern Irishman has seen them win three Premiership titles and land the European Champions Cup back-to-back in 2016 and 2017.
Additionally, McCall has been instrumental in the growth of current England stars like Owen Farrell and Maro Itoje.
2. Dean Richards
With the Bloodgate scandal seeming to derail Richards’ career for a number of years, the former Harlequins and Leicester Tigers Director of Rugby is now working his magic at Newcastle Falcons.
Despite limited resources at the club, Richards has already guided the team to seventh in the Premiership and is quickly building a young squad with the talent to challenge every team in the league.
Richards is more of an organiser than a hands on coach, but he could be just the sort of person to take over from Eddie Jones and a settled England team come the end of the next World Cup.
3. Dave Rennie
The 54-year-old Kiwi forged a formidable coaching reputation in his home country, notably during his time in charge of the Hamilton-based Super Rugby side the Chiefs.
He is now at the helm with Guinness PRO14 leaders Glasgow and is thought to feature on the Welsh Rugby Union’s current shortlist as a possible successor to Warren Gatland.
4. Scott Robertson
The hottest thing going in coaching at the moment, Robertson would be a left-field choice.
He’s young, exuberant and can breakdance which is a break from the usual tradition of older, wiser heads. Perhaps after Eddie Jones, what England will need, is a man with a dash of Kiwi flair and nouse.
He’s already accustomed to winning after leading the Crusaders to the Super Rugby trophy and the style that they play is remarkably similar to England.
Robertson could be a very popular choice in the media and could reinvent the English coaching role.
5. Rob Baxter
The Exeter boss is a miracle worker – people forget that he took Exeter up from the Championship and made them champions within six years of coaching. That’s one hell of an achievement.
The brand of rugby Exeter chiefs play would be the perfect fit for England. A big, abrasive pack who trust their ability to play through phases with playmakers in the backline.
Baxter is someone that the troops would follow into battle, meaning he would be the ideal candidate.
6. Graham Rowntree
Five Lions tours, three as a coach, as well as a largely successful time with England before things unraveled in 2015 comprise in Rowntree's enviable experience. As with Andy Farrell, a return nevertheless appears very unlikely.
7. Warren Gatland
Gatland will step down following 11 years in charge of Wales following the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
The 54-year-old’s enviable CV at Test level includes Six Nations titles and Grand Slams with Wales, plus a Test series victory over Australia and a series draw with world champions New Zealand during stints as British and Irish Lions head coach.
8. Paul Gustard
Former Leicester, London Irish and Saracens flanker Gustard was given a coaching position at Saracens under then Director of Rugby Eddie Jones, before working with Brendan Venter as defence and forwards coach.
It was his work with Saracens that led to the Australian head coach appointing Gustard to be in charge of England’s defence at the start of the year. England’s impressive defence has been at the heart of many of their victories in 2016, including beating Argentina with only 14 men on the field for all but 4 minutes of the match.
Like Borthwick, Gustard is a man who is constantly striving to improve as a coach and could well be in the mix to replace Jones as head coach.
9. Vern Cotter
If any anyone can compete with the reported £830,000 salary Cotter currently gets at Montpellier than is if the RFU.
The influence of 'Stern Vern' was beginning to shine through for Scotland at the end of his spell in charge, with young players he had blooded coming of age and playing some wonderful rugby.
He brought an unfancied Scotland side within a controversial penalty of a Rugby World Cup semi-final. The resources at his disposal with England would surely be attractive.
10. Steve Borthwick
Former Bath, Saracens and English lock Borthwick moved straight into coaching before the conclusion of his playing career, working in a player-coach position at Saracens before becoming forwards coach with Eddie Jones’ Japan.
Even though Borthwick does not have the years of coaching experience as some other candidates, he is obsessed with improving himself as a coach and has a pretty impressive record in his fledging career.
The ex-England lock will also be part of Warren Gatland’s coaching team for the Lions tour in the summer of 2017. With the progress he is making, could Borthwick be the perfect man to step up to coach the team he once captained?
