England Extend Borthwick Contract Through 2028 Six Nations — SkimNews
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- Steve Borthwick will have his England contract extended past the 2028 Six Nations to provide clarity for his coaching staff before next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia.
- Conor O'Shea explained the rationale on the Rugby Union Weekly podcast, saying 'you can't have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty' heading into the World Cup.
- The RFU took the same approach with Red Roses boss John Mitchell before the 2025 World Cup but stopped short of a long-term deal — unlike Ireland, who have signed Andy Farrell through 2031.
- England finished the July Nations Championship with two wins from three, bouncing back from a South Africa loss in Johannesburg to beat Fiji and Argentina.
- O'Shea said England are 'one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year,' declaring the talent is '100%' there if the side shows its best version.
- O'Shea defended the policy of selecting only English Premiership-based players, warning that loosening it — which would unlock Toulouse's Jack Willis — would hurt investment in English rugby pathways.
- The Red Roses have been unbeaten in four years and won every Six Nations since 2018, while no men's team has taken three in a row in the professional era.
Why it matters: The extension gives Borthwick security through the 2027 World Cup but leaves the RFU room to reassess afterward — a notably shorter runway than Ireland gave Farrell through 2031, signaling an England setup that will judge its coach squarely on tournament results in Australia.
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