Eddie Jones rugby news LIVE: England coach sacked with Steve Borthwick lined up as replacement

The RFU told the England coach his fate this morning and means they will need to appoint a new man nine months before the World Cup

Eddie Jones sacked as England rugby coach

Eddie Jones has been sacked as the head coach of England less than a year out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to replace him.

The Rugby Football Union decided to part ways with the Australian after seven years in charge, following a review of England’s dismal autumn results. An RFU statement confirmed the news, saying: “Following a review of the Autumn, Eddie Jones has been dismissed from the position of England Men’s Head Coach. In the interim, Richard Cockerill will take over the day to day running of the men’s performance team.”

Jones has recorded the best win rate of any England head coach but results had taken a turn as they entered the final year of the World Cup cycle. The dismissal is not without precedent as, in 2006 - just a year before the World Cup - Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties after autumn losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, with England going on to make the final of the following’s year’s global showpiece.

The current version of England were booed off following their 27-13 defeat to South Africa last month, their sixth loss of 2022, and the team have recorded their worst set of results since 2008 this year. It is now expected that Borthwick will take the helm with just nine months until the World Cup. A former England captain in his playing days, Borthwick led Tigers to the Gallagher Premiership title last season after taking over the role in 2020, having served as England’s forwards coach under Jones for five years from 2015.

Follow reaction to Jones’s sacking with our live blog below:

Eddie Jones latest updates

• Eddie Jones sacked as England men’s rugby head coach
• The 62-year-old Australian had been in charge for seven years
• England endured their worst year since 2008, including a dismal autumn
• Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to take over, nine months before World Cup

[6 December 2022 14:45 · Luke Baker]

Eddie Jones sacked as England coach after dismal autumn results

Eddie Jones has been sacked as the head coach of England less than a year out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to replace him.

The Rugby Football Union decided to part ways with the Australian after seven years in charge, following a review of England’s dismal autumn results.

Jones has recorded the best win rate of any England head coach but results had taken a turn as they entered the final year of the World Cup cycle.

The dismissal is not without precedent as, in 2006 - just a year before the World Cup - Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties after autumn losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, with England going on to make the final of the following’s year’s global showpiece.

The current version of England were booed off following their 27-13 defeat to South Africa last month, their sixth loss of 2022, and the team have recorded their worst set of results since 2008 this year.

[6 December 2022 14:32 · Luke Baker]

Warren Gatland insists ‘there is little time for sentiment’ after Wales return

Warren Gatland says “there is little time for sentiment” as he prepares to take charge of Wales for a second time and mastermind next year’s World Cup campaign.

Gatland replaces his fellow New Zealander Wayne Pivac as head coach, with the Welsh Rugby Union confirming Pivac’s departure following their review of Wales’ Autumn Nations Series campaign that included a home defeat against Georgia.

WRU chief executive Steve Phillips said Gatland will take charge of Wales for the 2023 Six Nations and World Cup.

But he added that there is “the ability to go through the next World Cup cycle up to and including Australia 2027”.

Gatland, 59, had been linked to the England head coach’s role, with a Rugby Football Union review currently assessing England’s autumn series amid uncertainty surrounding head coach Eddie Jones’ future. A decision on whether Jones goes or stays is likely in the next 48 hours, but Gatland has committed to Wales.

[6 December 2022 14:19 · Luke Baker]

Warren Gatland’s highs and lows as Wales head coach

Warren Gatland is to return for a second spell as Wales head coach, three years after leaving the role, following the departure of fellow New Zealander Wayne Pivac.

Here, the PA news agency takes a look at the highs and lows of his first stint in charge from 2008 until 2019:

[6 December 2022 14:06 · Luke Baker]

Luke Cowan-Dickie to leave Exeter at end of season to join Montpellier

England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie will leave Exeter at the end of this season to join French champions Montpellier.

Cowan-Dickie will be eligible for next year’s World Cup, but England’s current selection policy for players plying their trade overseas means he is unavailable after that tournament when he links up with the French club.

His move to France was confirmed by the Chiefs, and he will join current Exeter and England colleague Sam Simmonds at Montpellier next term.

Cowan-Dickie has been a key part of the England set-up under head coach Eddie Jones, winning 42 caps.

“Playing for England is the pinnacle of your career, so it’s tough to leave that behind,” he said. “I still think I have lots more to give, and hopefully I get more opportunities between now and the move.

“We’ve got the Six Nations coming up, then the World Cup, and I want to be involved in both. Hopefully, I’ve still got plenty of years left in my career, but this is an opportunity for me to go over there and show what I am all about.”

[6 December 2022 13:53 · Luke Baker]

England fly-half Marcus Smith ruled out for rest of year with ankle injury

England fly-half Marcus Smith will not play again this year after suffering an ankle injury during the Autumn Nations Series finale against South Africa.

Smith went off midway through the second half of England’s 27-13 defeat.

He is now set to miss Harlequins’ opening Heineken Champions Cup games against South African side Cell C Sharks and French heavyweights Racing 92, plus a Gallagher Premiership appointment with Bristol at Twickenham on December 27.

But his absence could run well into January, as he is due to have another specialist appointment next week.

England have a pre-Six Nations training camp over the new year period, while their tournament opener is against Scotland on February 4.

[6 December 2022 13:39 · Luke Baker]

Eddie’s legacy

In terms of pure win percentage, Eddie Jones will go down as England’s greatest men’s head coach, as this tweet shows.

There were undeniable highs during his reign but the wheels had come off in recent times and 2022 was the worst year for the team since 2008.

[6 December 2022 13:27 · Luke Baker]

Eddie Jones sacked as England coach after dismal autumn results

Eddie Jones has been sacked as the head coach of England less than a year out from the 2023 Rugby World Cup, with Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick set to replace him.

The Rugby Football Union decided to part ways with the Australian after seven years in charge, following a review of England’s dismal autumn results.

Jones has recorded the best win rate of any England head coach but results had taken a turn as they entered the final year of the World Cup cycle.

The dismissal is not without precedent as, in 2006 - just a year before the World Cup - Andy Robinson was relieved of his duties after autumn losses to New Zealand, Argentina and South Africa, with England going on to make the final of the following’s year’s global showpiece.

The current version of England were booed off following their 27-13 defeat to South Africa last month, their sixth loss of 2022, and the team have recorded their worst set of results since 2008 this year.

[6 December 2022 13:16 · Luke Baker]

The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England

What was the final straw?

For the third time under Jones, the Six Nations finished with three defeats.

The RFU backed him, seeing his fine record against southern hemisphere teams as crucial for mounting a challenge at the 2023 World Cup, but Jones’ position was no longer looking unassailable.

A 2-1 series victory over Australia in July initially justified the decision but a collapse before South Africa in the climax to an abject autumn saw the RFU’s patience run out, with its board approving the decision by a review panel to bring his reign to an end.

[6 December 2022 13:05 · Luke Baker]

The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England

So he had earned the right to continue?

Dismantling New Zealand extended Jones’ reign, but arguably it should have ended there as originally intended.

England won the coronavirus-interrupted Six Nations and Autumn Nations Series in 2020, but performances were poor and the wheels came off the following year when they finished fifth in the Championship.

A cull of senior players followed, but they were eventually reinstated, and his coaching team was overhauled yet again. Some great young talent was blooded, but England had lost their way – muddled, bereft of identity and neutered by a toothless attack.

[6 December 2022 12:54 · Luke Baker]

The key questions after Eddie Jones is sacked by England

But England bounced back at the 2019 World Cup, right?

Yes, but in many ways the impact made in that tournament was emblematic of what England had become under Jones.

A kind route to the knockout phase – their group game against France was cancelled because of a typhoon – was followed by a poor Australia being swept aside and New Zealand being crushed in sensational fashion in the semi-finals. But barely a shot was fired in the final against South Africa on a day of crushing disappointment.

Jones’ England rollercoaster was operational before and after Japan, but those seven days against the All Blacks and Springboks was its most extreme example.