Stuart Lancaster and his coaching team are to remain in charge of England's rugby fortunes until 2020 after the English Rugby Football Union agreed to extend their existing contracts. Lancaster will now preside over the 2019 Rugby World Cup campaign, regardless of what happens in next year's tournament.
It is a significant vote of confidence from the RFU, whose leading officials are clearly grateful for Lancaster's input since he inherited the job on an interim basis from Martin Johnson following the 2011 World Cup debacle.
“We are lucky to have a talented, committed and passionate coaching group,” said Ian Ritchie, the RFU’s chief executive.
“Coaching at international level is unique in that the time Stuart and the coaches have with the players is limited and in that regard it requires a special and stable coaching team. We therefore felt it important to secure their long-term future and we believe this is entirely the right decision for the future of England Rugby.”
All of Lancaster's lieutenants – the forwards coach Graham Rowntree, the backs coach Andy Farrell and the attacking skills coach Mike Catt – have also been contracted until the end of the 2019-20 season. All are highly regarded and have a good working relationship with England's increasing numbers of promising young players.
The only potential headache for the RFU is what happens if England contrive not to escape their pool, which also contains Australia and Wales, at next year’s World Cup.
The RFU clearly feels the benefits of continuity and England’s encouraging long-term outlook outweigh such shorter-term pitfalls. Under Lancaster England currently have a 60 per cent winning record, having played 30, won 18, lost 11 and drawn one.
South Africa, one of four teams heading to Twickenham for the autumn international series in November, remain the only team England have not yet beaten during his tenure.
The highlight so far has been the 38-21 victory over New Zealand – England's record margin over the All Blacks – in December 2012, which has been followed by second-placed Six Nations finishes in 2013 and 2014.
Lancaster is already keen to go one better next year and is delighted to have agreed his contract extension. “It’s great that the RFU have got faith in us as a coaching group and its support has been critical to what we have achieved to date,” he said.
“While our focus is on the QBE international against New Zealand and the 2015 World Cup on home soil will be a once-in-a lifetime opportunity, we want to build a team for England Rugby that leads into Japan in 2019 and beyond. We believe that England Rugby is moving in the right direction, we have the right coaching and management team to do take us forward and are excited about the challenge ahead.”
Rowntree has been at the RFU since 2007 after first joining as England National Academy coach in June 2007 and graduating into Martin Johnson’s set-up soon after. He was retained after the World Cup four years ago, while dual-code international Farrell became backs coach in June 2012. The final addition was 2003 Rugby World Cup winner Catt, who joined in September 2012.
(Guardian Service)
