The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has thrown its full support behind head coach Steve Borthwick, confirming he will lead England into the 2027 Rugby World Cup following a "thorough and honest" review of their Six Nations campaign.

England entered the tournament as title hopefuls, but the reality was stark: just one win, a historic first-ever defeat to Italy, and a fifth-place finish in the table. It was their worst-ever Six Nations campaign, leaving fans frustrated and questioning the direction of the team.

But after a detailed and robust internal review, RFU CEO Bill Sweeney and the English rugby hierarchy have reaffirmed their commitment to Borthwick. The message is clear: they believe he is still the man to steer the ship into next year's World Cup.

"The review concluded that, despite coming off a 12-game winning run, England's underperformance across the Six Nations was not the result of a singular failure or issue," the RFU stated. "Instead, it highlighted a number of interconnected performance areas—such as discipline, execution of opportunities, and making the most of key moments—where improvement is required if England are to consistently perform at the level expected."

The RFU acknowledged the frustration felt by supporters, saying, "We recognise why supporters felt frustrated and that they expected more. That disappointment was shared internally, and it underpinned the seriousness with which everyone engaged in this process."

With the review now complete, attention turns to the pitch. England are due to return to action in July for their inaugural Nations Championship campaign, and Borthwick will be looking for a quick turnaround. The schedule is challenging: a trip to Johannesburg to face South Africa, followed by matches against Fiji at Hill Dickinson Stadium and Argentina in Santiago del Estero.

While Sweeney had initially given Borthwick those fixtures to prove improvement after the Italy loss, an encouraging performance—albeit in defeat—against France in the final round of the Six Nations appears to have bolstered confidence. For now, the RFU is backing its man, and the focus is on building a team ready to compete at the highest level.