The Rugby Football Union has confirmed Steve Borthwick will remain England head coach as the England setup implements changes following a critical review of their Six Nations campaign.
England began the 2026 Six Nations on an 11-Test winning streak and opened with a victory over Wales, but then won just once in the remaining five matches. The campaign included a first-ever away defeat to Italy and a record home loss to Ireland, leaving England fifth in the table and raising concern with 18 months to go before the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney said the union conducted a thorough review and will continue to back Borthwick and his coaching staff. The review involved in-person, one-to-one interviews with current players, coaches, back-room staff and outside contributors. That process, the RFU says, encouraged open and sometimes challenging discussion and identified several linked performance areas that need attention rather than a single cause for the poor results.
Sweeney praised Borthwick’s openness during the review and stressed the coach has concrete plans to address its findings. He also acknowledged supporters’ frustration and said the organisation shares that disappointment, but remains confident the squad can regain consistency. Sweeney pointed to recent strong performances — including the run of victories before the Six Nations and a competitive display against France — as evidence of the team’s potential, while noting the group is young and still developing.
England will use the upcoming Nations Championship and the autumn Test programme as opportunities to act on the review’s recommendations and build toward the 2027 World Cup. In July, England travel to face South Africa and Argentina, with a home fixture against Fiji staged in Liverpool. In November, England will host Australia, Japan and New Zealand; Twickenham will also host the Nations Championship play-offs and final.
Key fixtures
– July 4: South Africa vs England
– July 11: Fiji vs England (Liverpool)
– July 18: Argentina vs England
– November 8: England vs Australia
– November 14: England vs Japan
– November 21: England vs New Zealand
The 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia runs from October 1 to November 13, 2027. The RFU says the review’s insights will guide preparations over the next 18 months as England aim to restore consistency and compete at their best in the lead-up to the tournament.