Rugby Union News: England Coaches Face Bonus Cuts Amid Worrying Losing Streak
In the midst of England’s current rugby union turmoil, the men overseeing the national team’s fortunes are not in immediate danger of losing their jobs, but they will face significant cuts to their annual bonuses due to the side’s recent run of defeats.
Head coach Steve Borthwick, RFU performance director Conor O’Shea, and the union’s chief executive Bill Sweeney will all see their performance-based bonuses reduced, as the team has failed to meet in-house targets for wins in the calendar year. With England managing just five victories in 12 Tests in 2024, they have fallen well short of the expected benchmark.
The loss against world champions South Africa last Saturday marked the national team’s fifth successive defeat and sixth in their last seven matches. While Borthwick retains the support of his employers, there are concerns about the lack of tangible progress despite the perceived improvements.
“After the conclusion of the Autumn Nations Series against Japan next Sunday, Borthwick and his coaching staff will be granted some time off in December, before a comprehensive official review is conducted in January.”
The RFU hierarchy is willing to give the benefit of the doubt, recognizing the challenging nature of the fixtures and England’s ongoing tactical evolution. There is a belief within the organization that the national team can bounce back in the upcoming Six Nations, with the expectation of home victories against France, Scotland, Italy, and an away win over Wales.
Borthwick is viewed as a tireless worker who embraces oversight from his superiors and has created a positive environment. However, the head coach will face tough questions about the results. While regime change is not currently on the agenda, Borthwick is under “constant review” on a campaign-by-campaign basis.
Expert Panel to Conduct Thorough Inquest
An expert panel will convene in the new year to conduct a thorough inquest and determine if any meaningful action needs to be taken. As the RFU is unhappy with the recent defeats, they are mindful of the promising bigger picture, including the success of the England Under-20 team.
The union is hopeful that if Borthwick and his squad can weather the current storm, better times may lie ahead. Next weekend, England will face a Japan side led by their former head coach, Eddie Jones, who narrowly avoided being sacked by the RFU in 2018 before a late match-winning intervention.
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