Steve Borthwick is increasingly likely to leave his role as England head coach after the 2027 Rugby World Cup – regardless of how England perform in Australia.
The 46-year-old is contracted through to the end of the tournament, and unlike previous England bosses, the Rugby Football Union appears in no rush to hand him a lucrative long-term extension.
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That marks a clear shift in strategy.
RFU learns from past mistakes
The RFU previously committed to both Sir Clive Woodward and Eddie Jones on long-term deals, only for those decisions to backfire.
Woodward signed a four-year extension in 2003 before leading England to World Cup glory, but resigned less than a year later after a dramatic decline in results.
Jones was rewarded with a new contract after guiding England to the 2019 World Cup final. However, England’s form steadily deteriorated and he was sacked in December 2022, less than a year before the 2023 tournament and with time still remaining on his deal.
Those experiences appear to have shaped the RFU’s current thinking.
Borthwick’s contract
Borthwick succeeded Jones in December 2022 on a five-year contract that runs until the conclusion of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
While RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney has publicly backed him to lead England into Australia, there has been no indication that contract talks are on the horizon.
Instead, the governing body looks set to assess his future after the World Cup rather than before it.
That means Borthwick is likely to leave at the end of the tournament whether England lift the Webb Ellis Cup, fall short in the knockout stages, or disappoint entirely.
Unless either side changes course, November 2027 is shaping up to be the natural end of Borthwick’s reign as England head coach.
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