In the wake of England's worst Six Nations performance in five decades, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has thrown its full support behind head coach Steve Borthwick, confirming he will lead the team through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The decision, announced Tuesday, follows a comprehensive review of a campaign that started with promise but unraveled dramatically.
England's Six Nations journey began with a bang—a dominant victory over Wales in the opening round that extended their winning streak to 12 consecutive test matches. For a moment, it looked like Borthwick's squad had turned a corner. But the momentum was short-lived. The team lost its remaining four games, including a historic first-ever defeat to Italy, and slumped to fifth place in the tournament standings.
The review pinpointed several recurring issues that plagued England's campaign: persistent indiscipline, an over-reliance on kicking, and a frustrating lack of clinical execution in key moments. Perhaps most tellingly, under Borthwick's tenure through four Six Nations tournaments, England has yet to secure a victory away against Scotland, Ireland, or France—a statistic that underscores the gap between ambition and performance.
Despite the disappointment, RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney emphasized the importance of patience and perspective. "This is a young England team that is still growing and developing, and we understand progress in international sport is rarely linear," Sweeney stated. He added that an unnamed panel of rugby figures conducted a "thorough and honest review," with Borthwick engaging fully and presenting clear plans for improvement.
The RFU acknowledged the 12-match winning run as a significant achievement, but stressed that the Six Nations struggles were not due to any single factor. Instead, the review highlighted "interconnected performance areas" requiring urgent attention, including discipline, execution of opportunities, and capitalizing on pivotal moments. The good news for fans? Borthwick and his coaching staff are already implementing changes to address these shortcomings.
England's next test comes quickly—a daunting clash against world champions South Africa in Johannesburg on July 4, part of the newly formed Nations Championship. It's a chance for Borthwick's squad to prove that the Six Nations was a setback, not a statement. For now, the RFU is betting on continuity over crisis, sending a clear message: the rebuild continues, with Borthwick at the helm.