Eddie Jones has been sacked after presiding over English rugby’s worst run of results since 2008.
The 62-year-old was left fighting for his future after overseeing a disappointing 2022 consisting of six defeats, a draw and five wins and ending with a comprehensive loss to South Africa a fortnight ago.
‘It is important to recognise the huge contribution Eddie has made to English rugby, winning three Six Nations Championships, one Grand Slam and taking us to a Rugby World Cup Final,’ said Rugby Football Union CEO, Bill Sweeney.
‘He has the highest win ratio of any previous England head coach and has helped develop the leadership skills of many players and coaches.
‘I am grateful to Eddie for all he has done for England across many areas of the game and the professional way in which he has approached reviewing the performance of the team.
‘He has provided the panel with astute insight and meaningful lessons that will support the team performance going forward.’
During his time in charge Jones steered England to three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2016, two series wins in Australia, an unbeaten run of 18 matches, an Autumn Nations Cup, and a Rugby World Cup final in Japan.
‘I am pleased with much that we have achieved as an England team and I look forward to watching the team’s performance in the future,” said Jones. “Many of the players and I will no doubt keep in touch and I wish them all well in their future careers.’
The RFU will now look to appoint a successor, with Leicester head coach and former England forwards specialist Steve Borthwick the front-runner.
New Zealander Warren Gatland had also been linked with the post, but committed to a second term as Wales head coach on Monday following Wayne Pivac’s departure from that job.
The review panel has regularly presented to the board during its investigation into what went wrong during an autumn that opened with defeat to Argentina, produced a solitary victory over Japan and a draw with New Zealand before signing off with an abject collapse against the Springboks.
With the World Cup in France looming, England have left it late to potentially change their coach, yet the RFU may feel it has no alternative but to act.
And that could open the door for 43-year-old Cumbrian Borthwick, who skippered England during a 57-cap England career.
He was appointed Leicester boss in 2020, and has overseen a startling transformation in the Tigers’ fortunes, highlighted by a Gallagher Premiership title triumph last season.
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