Steve Borthwick's tenure as England head coach has been extended beyond the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, with his contract now set to run until the end of the following Six Nations tournament. The decision comes after a disappointing 2026 Six Nations campaign, which saw England win only one match, their worst performance in a quarter-century. Rugby Football Union director Conor O'Shea described the team's campaign as "horrendous," citing a lack of cohesion, discipline, and tactical variety.
Despite the poor results and public questioning of Borthwick's future, O'Shea stated that extending the coaches' contracts provides crucial certainty. "You don't want the coaches looking for a job going into tournament," O'Shea explained to Rugby Union Weekly. "If they have no certainty, that is the worst case. So we'll give that certainty to the group, but then that will give us time to be able to look properly when it comes to the World Cup."
The additional six months to Borthwick's deal is not being characterized as a significant vote of confidence, differing from longer extensions such as the five-year deal Ireland's Andy Farrell received. The RFU's decision aims to provide stability as the team prepares for the next World Cup, with only a severe dip in form expected to alter their commitment to Borthwick for the tournament.