RFU Backs Borthwick to Lead England to 2027 World Cup

The Rugby Football Union has reaffirmed its support for Steve Borthwick as England head coach, tasking him with leading the team through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia following a comprehensive review of their disappointing Six Nations campaign.

England finished fifth in the tournament, securing just one victory in their opener against Wales before suffering four straight defeats, including a 23-18 loss to Italy on March 7. The review, overseen by RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney and involving input from players, coaches, and backroom staff as well as external contributors, identified no single cause for the underperformance. Instead, it pinpointed interconnected issues such as discipline, execution of opportunities, and capitalizing on key moments.

"Steve has engaged in this process with full openness and has clear plans in place to address these findings," Sweeney said in an RFU statement. "We are all behind him and his coaching team going into the Nations Championship and the series of matches leading into the 2027 World Cup."

The governing body acknowledged fan frustration while emphasizing the team's potential, highlighted by a narrow overtime loss to champions...