The Rugby Football Union today confirmed extensions to all the England coaches’ contracts that will see them remain in place until 2020. Along with head coach Stuart Lancaster, the extensions include forwards coach Graham Rowntree, backs coach Andy Farrell and skills coach Mike Catt.
Having been appointed in March 2012, Lancaster’s tenure will now encompass two World Cups, taking him through next year’s event on home soil as well as the 2019 tournament in Japan.
“It’s great that the RFU have got faith in us as a coaching group and its support has been critical to what we have achieved to date,” Lancaster said.
“While our focus is on the QBE International against New Zealand and the 2015 World Cup on home soil will be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, we want to build a team for England Rugby that leads into Japan in 2019 and beyond.
“We believe that England Rugby is moving in the right direction, we have the right coaching and management team to take us forward and are excited about the challenge ahead.”
Lancaster was appointed head coach on an interim basis after the 2011 World Cup, and after leading England to second place in his first Six Nations, was handed the job on a full time basis. His record reads played 30, won 18, lost 11 and drawn one, with a win percentage of 60% (the highest since Sir Clive Woodward, who departed with a 71% win percentage). South Africa is the only tier one team he is yet to beat.
Rowntree is the longest serving member of the coaching team, having been appointed by Martin Johnson in 2007, and being the only member of the team to emerge from the disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign with any credit. Farrell was appointed by Lancaster in June 2012, while Catt was appointed later that year.
CEO of the RFU Ian Ritchie was delighted the team had renewed their contracts.
“We are lucky to have a talented, committed and passionate coaching group,” he said. “Coaching at international level is unique in that the time Stuart and the coaches have with the players is limited and in that regard it requires a special and stable coaching team.
“We therefore felt it important to secure their long-term future and we believe this is entirely the right decision for the future of England Rugby.”
What do you make of the decision to extend the coaches’ contracts before the 2015 Rugby World Cup has taken place?
Photo by: Patrick Khachfe / Onside Images
