Steve Borthwick England Contract Extended Past 2028 Six Nations
Key Points
- Steve Borthwick's contract will be extended past the 2028 Six Nations, announced by the Rugby Football Union.
- RFU performance director Conor O'Shea stated that England is one of five teams capable of winning the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
- Borthwick was appointed as England coach in December 2022 and led the team to two wins from three games in July's Nations Championship.
Confidence in World Cup Prospects
O'Shea expressed strong belief in England's World Cup chances, identifying the team as one of five capable of winning in 2027. "This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year," O'Shea stated. "If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world."
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England's recent form supports this assessment. In July's Nations Championship, the team recovered from a loss to South Africa in Johannesburg to secure victories over Fiji in Liverpool and edge out Argentina, finishing the campaign with two wins from three matches.
The RFU's approach mirrors its handling of the women's team. The union previously extended Red Roses boss John Mitchell's contract before the 2025 World Cup to prevent uncertainty during the tournament. However, the RFU has stopped short of offering Borthwick a long-term commitment comparable to Ireland's arrangement with head coach Andy Farrell, who signed through 2031.
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O'Shea described his assessment of Borthwick's character and commitment. "I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine," he said. The contract extension through mid-2028 provides sufficient runway to evaluate Borthwick's longer-term future with the team after the World Cup concludes.
The timing of this extension underscores a shift in how major rugby unions manage coaching stability around World Cup years, prioritizing certainty for coaching staff and reducing the distraction of job searches during the most significant tournament cycle.
Sources: BBC Sport and other international news outlets.
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