The Rugby Football Union has reiterated its backing for England head coach Steve Borthwick by extending the contracts of the national coaching staff through to the summer of 2028. Borthwick and his existing backroom team will lead the side into next year’s Rugby World Cup, with rugby authorities eager to maintain stability ahead of the tournament.
Bill Sweeney, the RFU chief executive, confirmed the decision following a comprehensive internal review into the team's performances. Sweeney stated that the union remains fully committed to the long-term project despite a challenging run of results earlier in the year.
England endured a difficult Six Nations campaign that featured a first-ever defeat to Italy alongside other setbacks. The team also suffered a heavy 45-21 loss to South Africa in their opening match of the Nations Championship at Ellis Park in July.
Sweeney emphasized that the leadership group conducted a thorough evaluation of those disappointing displays to address underlying vulnerabilities. The governing body believes the corrective actions taken behind the scenes are already yielding positive improvements on the pitch.
The RFU chief executive pointed to subsequent performances against Fiji and Argentina as evidence of the team rediscovering their competitive edge. England are now preparing to continue their autumn campaign with an upcoming fixture against Australia at Allianz Stadium on Sunday.
A central area of focus during the performance review was team discipline following an accumulation of disciplinary sanctions. England have been shown 14 yellow cards and suffered one red card across various international fixtures throughout the 2026 calendar year.
Sweeney highlighted statistical disparities showing a significant drop in competitiveness when the side is reduced to 14 players. He noted that full-strength performances place the team among the leading global contenders, making player discipline an urgent priority for the coaching staff.
Assistant coach Richard Wigglesworth provided a positive fitness update regarding fly-half Fin Smith ahead of the weekend fixture. Wigglesworth confirmed that Smith successfully completed training sessions and is being considered for selection pending a final assessment.
Back-rower Ben Earl praised the quality and consistent form of his teammate after watching him participate in training. Earl expressed confidence in the playmaker's ability to make a meaningful impact if he proves his fitness before Sunday.
England's preparations for the weekend also included a motivational visit from British sprint star Amy Hunt. The 24-year-old athlete, who claimed four gold medals at the European Championships earlier this year, spoke to the squad in camp on Wednesday.
The autumn schedule will see England face further tests against Japan and New Zealand following their encounter with the Wallabies. The campaign will conclude with a placement fixture against an undecided opponent on the competition's finals weekend at Twickenham.
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