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RFU refuse to rule out bringing back Stuart Lancaster as England coach once Eddie Jones leaves

Lancaster left after the dismal 2015 Rugby World Cup but has rebuilt his career in Ireland along with Andy Farrell and has not been discounted from a future return

Wednesday 05 December 2018 10:02 GMT

Stuart Lancaster has not been ruled out replacing Eddie Jones as England head coach (Getty)

England have refused to rule out an attempt to bring former boss Stuart Lancaster back into their coaching set-up.

The Rugby Football Union (RFU) will in January launch the search for a coach to join England's backroom staff after the 2019 World Cup.

England bosses want head coach Eddie Jones to mentor his eventual successor, with that candidate yet to be finalised.

The RFU will convene a panel in the new year to intensify that search, and interim chief executive Nigel Melville has refused to dismiss the merits of re-employing Lancaster, who lost his head-coaching role after the 2015 World Cup.

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

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1/15Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Cian Healy (Ireland)

Rolled back the years to his very best form and the sight of him leaving the field against New Zealand completely exhausted demonstrated just how much he gave to Ireland’s caused. Has ended any doubts over who the best current loosehead in Ireland is once and for all.

Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Ken Owens (Wales)

The most consistent hooker throughout the autumn, both in performance and in selection. Strong showings against Australia and South Africa that both resulted in victories saw him clinch the shirt with relative ease.

Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Kyle Sinckler (England)

Looks to be on the way to fulfilling his potential after a standout autumn, with the man-of-the-match performance against Australia being one of the best showings from an English tighthead we’ve ever seen. Could well become a force to be reckoned with in the years to come.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Maro Itoje (England)

The consistent figure in England’s second row that was hit by injury after injury. Overcame a difficult start against the Springboks to star in the near-miss against New Zealand and the comeback victory over Japan. Is growing into a real leader of the pack as he took control of the lineout against Australia with huge success.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Brodie Retallick (New Zealand)

The best player in the world right now and it was his domination of the English lineout that helped secure the comeback victory at Twickenham. Unlucky to be on the losing side against Ireland but overall it was a strong series from the towering lock.

REUTERS

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Peter O’Mahony (Ireland)

Phenomenal performance against the All Blacks saw him hobble off the pitch to a standing ovation. A crucial figure in the lineout against Argentina too and he is developing into a new talisman for the Irish.

AP

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Ellis Jenkins (Wales)

Two brilliant showings against Tonga and South Africa on either side of the back-row. His performance against the Springboks was phenomenal, with a line-break to set up Tomas Francis for a try and a try-saving tackle on Jesse Kriel, and we can only hope he makes a full recovery from the nasty knee injury he suffered at the end of the match.

AFP/Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Mark Wilson (England)

Came into the autumn as an unknown quantity and leaves having put himself firmly in the frame for England’s World Cup squad. Man of the match against South Africa in only his second start and provided some much-needed ball carrying against Australia that apparently England were lacking.

EPA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Greig Laidlaw (Scotland)

May be off the radar playing in France but he is back to his best as Scotland’s first-choice No 9. Has looked lively all autumn and as reliable as ever kicking for goal to lift that responsibility off half-back partner Finn Russell.

PA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Owen Farrell (England)

Say what you want about his controversial tackling technique that for some reason is going unpunished, but he offers so many match-defining moments that he has to feature in the side. Unsurpring mention for Johnny Sexton too, but his lack of game time compared to Farrell’s three-and-a-half outings sees Farrell take the shirt.

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Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Jacob Stockdale (Ireland)

Part of a well-drilled team move to secure victory against New Zealand but his individual contribution cannot be ignored as he executed a perfect chip-and-chase to win the match for the Irish and inject them with a huge show of momentum ahead of the World Cup.

REUTERS

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Bundee Aki (Ireland)

The standout performer in an autumn that was difficult for a lot of inside centres. Ben Te’o and Hadleigh Parkes were also in the running and Damien De Allende was perhaps the most consistent, but Aki takes the spot with strong performances against the All Blacks and Italy.

PA

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Garry Ringrose (Ireland)

He is developing into a wonder player at international level, and is able to form strong partnerships with whoever is inside him as we saw when Robbie Henshaw was ruled out at late notice to see Aki come in inside him. Somewhat strangely the only player retained in the side to face the USA, but delivered with a virtuoso performance in playing a key role in Andrew Conway’s hat-trick.

AP

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

George North (Wales)

Looked like the wing of old at the start of the autumn and looks to be reaping the rewards of his move back to Wales and the National Dual Contract that came with it. Fully fit and firing at his best, it has been a joy to watch North get back into his stride this autumn.

Getty Images

Rugby internationals – team of the autumn

Israel Folau (Australia)

The superstar playing in one of the most average Australia teams we’ve ever seen. The finish for his first try against England was the sign of a special player that few others could replicate, while he was also mighty under the high ball throughout the autumn.

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When asked if current Leinster coach - and potential Ireland target - Lancaster would be a candidate for the future England backroom vacancy, Melville replied: "I'm not sure, I haven't spoken to Stuart so I'm not sure if it's the path that he sees for himself.

"I'll be meeting with everyone who is a potential target for us and I'll make the list based on that.

"I don't know what other people might be thinking but all our top English coaches will be contacted."

Asked if the RFU would have any reservations reverting to Lancaster, Melville continued: "No, not a problem, why would it would be a problem?

"I'll talk to anyone who has the requisite talent to do the job for us.

"It will be a pretty good search. We have been monitoring everyone for the last 18 months.

"We have got a spreadsheet of everything and everyone, all around, different levels, assistant coaches, kicking coaches, and we have English coaches overseas as well. Quite a few in France. In Scotland. All sorts.

"And a lot of overseas coaches in the Premiership too. It is quite a broad thing."

Nigel Melville is acting chief executive at the RFU after Syeve Brown's resignation (Getty)

Lancaster was sacked after the 2015 World Cup where England became the worst-performing hosts in tournament history for failing to progress beyond the group stages.

Lancaster's assistant Andy Farrell also lost his job after the 2015 tournament, but has since rebuilt his coaching career with Ireland.

The former dual-code international will succeed Joe Schmidt as Ireland head coach after the 2019 World Cup, and that leaves Lancaster firmly in the running to join Ireland's backroom staff.

Lancaster helped Leinster claim the Pro14 and Champions Cup double last season, as the former PE teacher reasserted his coaching credentials.

Melville insisted England would consider coaches from all backgrounds, whether English or foreign, based in the Premiership or overseas.

"We want the best person, don't we?" said Melville.

"We want the best person for the job. I am English, this is England, of course it would be great to have an English coach.

"But we have got to have the best coach for the job."

Lancaster has rebuit his career at Leinster (Getty)

Melville scotched any notion of Premiership promotion and relegation being scrapped this season, after several English clubs were understood to have pushed for fast-tracked ring-fencing.

But the interim RFU chief did concede that ring-fencing the top division may eventually come to pass.

Asked if promotion and relegation could be halted for this season, Melville replied: "I think that's called wishful thinking isn't it?

"Suddenly people want something to happen now. Well, no, that's not how it works. Nothing is going to change as regards this season.

"I wonder why this week we're talking about promotion and relegation?

"You look at the table and you can see why, with six or seven teams separated by four points.

"I sometimes get a bit uncomfortable with the team going down coming up every year, because the integrity of the competition starts to be impacted.

Eddie Jones pays tribute to RFU chief executive Steve Brown after resignation

"People start to say 'what is the point?' You have Ealing at the moment who do have the resources and are challenging at the top (of the Championship) and others aspire to do that, whether that's Cornish Pirates or Yorkshire Carnegie or anybody else.

"That opportunity is still there, but the gap is so big and it seems to be getting wider. If it continues to get wider, should we have a review of that and have a closer look at that? Potentially."

PA

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