RFU backs Borthwick for World Cup as England face discipline demands

Steve Borthwick has received renewed backing to remain England head coach for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Rugby Football Union chief executive Bill Sweeney saying he could not envisage replacing him because of this month’s results. The Guardian reported that the commitment comes despite England losing five of their past seven matches.

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The RFU extended Borthwick’s contract in September, keeping him in the role beyond the 2028 Six Nations. Sweeney said the decision was intended to remove uncertainty about the coaching staff’s future during World Cup preparations and retain the same group through the following Six Nations. He acknowledged England’s disappointing campaign this year while reaffirming the union’s support.

Alongside that backing, Sweeney has publicly demanded better discipline. According to BBC Sport, England collected eight yellow cards and one red during their five Six Nations matches, spending 118 minutes without a full team on the field. Sweeney said the issue had prompted extensive internal discussion and that Borthwick was working with his players to address it.

The problems continued during the July internationals. England ended their 45-21 loss to South Africa with 13 players after Tommy Freeman and Guy Pepper received yellow cards. Two weeks later, four second-half sin-binnings helped Argentina threaten a comeback, BBC Sport reported. Those incidents followed the repeated reductions in playing numbers that had affected England’s Six Nations campaign.

Sweeney told the BBC that internal analysis placed England second in the world when all 15 players were on the pitch, but only eighth or ninth when reduced to 14. Those assessments were presented as his interpretation of the analysis, rather than official rankings. His message was that England needed to keep their full team available for longer.

England also received an encouraging, but provisional, update on Fin Smith. The Guardian reported that the fly-half completed Wednesday’s training after a calf problem. Defence coach Richard Wigglesworth said his availability still depended on his reaction over the next 24 hours and further training on Friday. Smith has started England’s past five Tests.