England head coach Steve Borthwick is set to have his contract extended beyond the 2028 Six Nations, giving him and his coaching staff certainty over their positions in the run-up to and during next year's Rugby World Cup in Australia. The Rugby Football Union has taken the same approach it used with Red Roses coach John Mitchell before the 2025 World Cup, aiming to avoid uncertainty destabilising the squad during the tournament build-up.

RFU performance director Conor O'Shea said the extension into mid-2028 would give the union time to properly assess long-term leadership after the World Cup, adding he could not envisage a scenario in which Borthwick is not in charge in Australia. This follows a review into England's poor Six Nations campaign earlier this year and a Nations Championship series in which England beat Fiji and Argentina after losing to South Africa. Unlike Ireland, who have tied Andy Farrell down to 2031, the RFU has stopped short of a long-term commitment. O'Shea also defended the policy restricting England selection to Premiership-based players, despite calls from Courtney Lawes for it to be reviewed.