England assistant coaches axed as Eddie Jones makes his mark

Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt are to leave their positions as England assistant coaches.

The English Rugby Football Union confirmed their departures on Monday, and it follows Stuart Lancaster’s exit as head coach last month after England recently became the first host nation in the 28-year history of the World Cup not to reach the pool stages.

Australian Eddie Jones took charge as Lancaster's successor earlier this month and it is expected that current Saracens defence and forwards coach Paul Gustard and ex-England captain Steve Borthwick will join a new-look coaching support team.

Jones said: “Having met with all of the coaches to talk through the future direction, we felt it was the right time to make changes.

“They are all experienced guys and have contributed greatly to this England team over recent years, and I know everyone at the Union is appreciative of their hard work and commitment.

“On behalf of the players that have benefited from their coaching and the RFU, I wish them the very best for the future.”

As part of Lancaster’s coaching set-up, the trio – all England internationals – coached England to 22 victories in 36 Tests, with the highlight being a Twickenham win against world champions New Zealand in 2012.

But this year’s World Cup campaign was a miserable failure, with England suffering pool stage defeats against Wales and Australia that destroyed any hope of them reaching the quarter-finals.

Lancaster departed within a fortnight of the tournament finishing, with Jones appointed shortly afterwards, and the departures of three such experienced figures represents the first major decision of his reign.

Former Wigan rugby league star Farrell became England backs coach in 2011 and, together with forwards specialist Rowntree, was part of the 2013 British and Irish Lions coaching staff under Warren Gatland that claimed a Test series-winning triumph against Australia.

Former Leicester prop Rowntree, meanwhile, joined the England coaching set-up in 2008, initially working with Lancaster’s predecessor Martin Johnson, while former Bath and London Irish back Catt took up an England skills coach role in 2012.

Gustard is considering an offer to be one of Jones’s assistants, while current Bristol forwards coach Borthwick is also thought to be firmly on the radar.

Saracens rugby director Mark McCall revealed after his team’s 45-10 European Champions Cup victory over Oyonnax on Sunday that 39-year-old Gustard had been offered an assistant coach’s role with England.

McCall, speaking after Saracens recorded a third successive bonus point victory in Champions Cup Pool One, said: “Paul has been made an offer to become an assistant coach with England.

“He is considering the offer, and I’m sure there will be some dealings between the RFU and ourselves over the next 24-48 hours.

“When there is anything more to add we will announce in due course.”

Gustard has been an integral part of Saracens’ success under McCall, including winning the Aviva Premiership title last season and being a consistent force in Europe.

He played for Leicester during the 1990s, making almost 100 appearances for the Tigers and featuring during the 2001 European Cup final victory against Stade Francais in Paris.

Gustard left Leicester in 2002 to join London Irish, making 98 appearances in four years for the Exiles, then headed to Saracens, where he moved into coaching after his playing days ended.

Borthwick, meanwhile, was Jones’s right-hand man with Japan during the World Cup in September and October, plotting three pool stage victories, including a stunning 34-32 success against South Africa in Brighton.