Borthwick Gets No Job Guarantee; RFU Denies Farrell Talks
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- Bill Sweeney said Steve Borthwick has received no guarantees over his job, insisting the RFU is still in the middle of a review of England's worst-ever Six Nations campaign and will "get to the bottom" of the issues.
- England finished fifth in the 2026 Six Nations with four straight defeats, including a first-ever loss to Italy and a 48-46 thriller against France, having previously won 12 consecutive matches under Borthwick.
- Bill Sweeney confirmed there has been no contact with Andy Farrell about succeeding Borthwick, despite both men's contracts expiring after the 2027 World Cup.
- Steve Borthwick will be given the summer to respond, with England scheduled to face South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina in July, and an anonymous panel conducting the performance review.
- Andy Farrell has won two Six Nations titles with Ireland and led the British and Irish Lions to a series victory in Australia, making him the highest-profile unattached candidate if the RFU ultimately moves on.
Why it matters: England's worst-ever Six Nations finish — fifth with four straight losses after a 12-match winning run — has put Borthwick on notice with a year until the 2027 World Cup, and Sweeney's refusal to confirm his future keeps the Farrell succession question open while the review is completed.
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