EnglandBristol say they will “take all reasonable actions” after denying a deal had been done with the Rugby Football Union for Steve Borthwick to become England forwards coach.

The RFU released a statement saying former England captain Borthwick would join new head coach Eddie Jones’ team.

Borthwick signed a long-term deal with Bristol after the World Cup, having worked under Jones with Japan.

“We have not agreed Steve Borthwick can leave our employment,” Bristol said.

Borthwick is understood to have handed in his resignation on Tuesday, but the club said they had not given the RFU permission to speak to Borthwick and would “take all reasonable actions as necessary to protect the club’s position”.

Before Bristol intervened, Borthwick was quoted in an RFU statement saying it was a “huge honour to be asked as these chances don’t come around often”.

The former England captain was due to be Jones’ first appointment after previous forwards coach Graham Rowntree departed on Monday, along with Mike Catt and Andy Farrell.

In the same RFU statement, Jones described Borthwick as a “great addition” who would “get the best out of the players at the highest level”.

Jones also called Borthwick a “young coach with great potential” and praised his “analytical” approach as part of the RFU announcement.

 

Borthwick-Jones partnership:

Borthwick, 36, captained both Bath and Saracens during a 16-year playing career and won 57 England caps between 2001 and 2010.

The lock was part of the England side that reached the 2007 Rugby World Cup final in South Africa and was appointed captain by then coach Martin Johnson in 2008.

Jones worked part-time with Jones for two years as a spot coach with Japan, before retiring in 2014 – with a record 265 Premiership appearances – and becoming the country’s full-time forwards coach.

He helped Jones to mastermind Japan’s stunning victory over South Africa in this year’s Rugby World Cup before signing a contract with Bristol.

Jones, who also worked with Borthwick at Premiership side Saracens, was named as Stuart Lancaster’s successor in November, following England’s dismal World Cup campaign.

Jones, 55, will take charge of his first match on 9 February when England face Scotland in the Six Nations.

 

Others in contention:

Jones is also looking to name replacements for previous attack coach Catt and defence coach Farrell.

The former Australia head coach has asked another former colleague Paul Gustard to join his team, with the Saracens defence and forwards coach currently considering the offer.

Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder has said that backs coach Alex King will meet Jones this week to discuss a position with England.

Mallinder says there has been no official approach yet from the RFU, but that Saints will not prevent King from leaving if he was offered a role.

 

bbc

59 Responses to English Rugby: Dispute over appointment of Steve Borthwick as Eddie Jones’ assistant

  • 31

    @ Puma:
    Belated Happy Birthday Puma, trust you had a fantastic day, here’s wishing you all the best Cheers

  • 32

    So it is rumoured that the new England rugby captain will be Dylan Hartley! Let’s see first how things work out, will be surprised if that happens, but where there is smoke there is fire.

  • 33

    Saracens forwards and defence coach Paul Gustard will be England’s new defence coach. He has done well at Sarries for a while so they will miss him but this could be England’s gain. He is said to link up with England in the new year, the new England coaching staff may only be in place barely a month before the 6 Nation, wonder if this will hinder or help the team as some England players have been playing really well in the last few weeks anyway.

  • 34

    England may have or may or may not pay Bristol compensation for Borthwick, rumoured to be £500 000 but who knows where those numbers come from. Gosh between paying Bristol and paying off Stormers it seems Eddie Jones is costing England Rugby a lot at the moment. By the way what there ever any confirmation of how much if any money The Stormers got paid for Jones walking out on them?

  • 35

    For no particular reason other than think it is a great inspirational tune and have just enjoyed listening to it yet again:

  • 37

    @ BrumbiesBoy:

    Welcome to our world.

    People stick around for years.

    Others only for a weekend.

  • 38

    @ Bullscot:

    I had the pleasure and privilege of listening to this guy a couple of years back. Mostly on acoustic guitar. But the organ was “his office”.

    When he did that rendition of July Morning it was spine tingling. A magnificent song writer.

  • 39

    @ Bullscot: @ 24.

    That wasn’t made public. The rumour initially was R15 mio. But they settled for a lot less. Don’t think Fleckie is commanding a salary of R5 mio a season.

    Eddie, like his cousin Jake, are behaving like prostitutes and hitting people in the pocket.

  • 40

    @ IAAS: yes July Morning was very special and could have easily raised a few hairs. However, Look at Yourself was what defined Uriah Heep in my experience. It was massive in my day and was what probably put UH and Ken H on the map. I was only in std 6 at the time but was old enough to realise history in the making. I was privileged to see them live many years later.

  • 41

    as a boarding school pipsqueak back in 1970, rock music was beginning to show its horns to great appreciation from the bored, boardered and fascinated, in not particular order. Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Grand Funk Railroad, King Crimson, Jethro Tull, Santana, Canned Heat, Cocker and the Woodstock concert collective amongst others, all made a lasting impression. In fact so lasting its still lingering on to this day. And lets not forget Jimmi(H & M). Times indeed!

  • 42

    other favourites, now that I’m on a roll, were; Janis, Joan Baez, Bob, CSNY, Country Joe & F, Arlo Guthrie, Carol King, James Taylor, CCR and one could go on. In fact I was fortunate to attend a brilliant CCR cover concert not too long ago near Chappies. I needed a hankie to dry the residue from a spec in my left eye. Say no more.

  • 43

    38 @ IAAS:
    Hi IAAS sorry for only getting back to you now, you were very lucky then can imagine that it was a brilliant gig. To be honest it is only fairly recently that I have been listening to his music, when I first heard it was surprised to hear how ‘laid back’ it was as my impression was that Uriah Heap was quite a loud rock band from back then.

  • 44

    39 @ IAAS:
    Thanks, with the current exchange rate am sure they would quite gladly have handed over R5 million if that is nearer the number they did (less than £250 000), in that case Stormers were maybe done in a bit for the man who is head coach if you consider the rumours are that Bristol are looking for £500 000 compensation for the release of someone who will be an assistant coach and you consider the gulf between the competitions the Stormers and Bristol play in.

  • 45

    Well well , I never thought Rugby had the pulling power to do this:

    Rugby World Cup-winning fly-half Dan Carter has been named 2015 BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year.

    He beat Novak Djokovic, Katie Ledecky, Usain Bolt, Jordan Spieth and Serena Williams after the award was decided by a public vote for the first time.

    Carter, 33, was an integral part of the New Zealand team that beat Australia 34-17 to win the World Cup in October.

    The highest ever points scorer in Test rugby, he won the World Player of the Year award for a third time in 2015.

    “I’m thrilled to have been voted BBC Overseas Sports Personality of the Year by the UK public,” said Carter.

    “It’s been an incredible year for me on British soil and the support has been phenomenal.

    “It was an incredibly competitive shortlist and I’m honoured to have been recognised alongside these great sportsmen and women from around the world.”

    He was born and raised in the town of Leeston, 30 miles south west of Christchurch in New Zealand’s South Island……….etc, etc, etc, etc.

    It is said in the darkest corners of Leeston. That Danny made a deal with the devil. Nobody knows what Danny got, but the devil got lessons in tactics, precision and gamesmanship.

  • 46

    @ cane: speaking of whom; interesting arm-wrestle going on at ‘The Garden’ at this moment. All Racing’s points off said gentleman’s boot, to give his team the half time lead.

  • 47

    this Saints Racing battle is very evenly matched. Some big names on the park on both sides.

  • 48

    some good skill and continuity from Saints with Big Vic prominent in the centres.

  • 49

    without counting there must be at least ten internationals on the park between these two sides. Amongst which is Carter, Matfield, Laws, Philips, Foden, Szarzewski, Rokocoko, Imhoff, Masoe, North, Charteris. Who have I left out. That’s quite a lineup one has to say.

  • 50

    and a heavily camouflaged coach Jones in the crowd to talent search. Took a while to hunt him down given the beanie dragged low over his eyes. I’m sure he was playing ingcognito.

  • 51

    Wanneer gaan die gemors in ons land ophou? Ons het vanoggend ‘n klagte ontvang uit Moot. Bure het gekla van ‘n agtjarige seuntjie wat heeloggend gil. Ons is met drie patrollie voertuie en ‘n maatskaplike werker na die adres. Daar aangekom was die deur gesluit. Ons kon daai kind se gille hoor.
    Een van die vrouekonstabels het begin huil. Ons kon hoor hoe skreeu daai kind…”Daddy…moenie…hou op daddy…daddy ek wil nie…daddy hou op asseblief!!!…ek sal nie vir mammie sê nie…hou op…asseblief daddy moenie..iemand help! Asseblief!”
    Die bure in die straat was kwaad en gewapen. Een ou skreeu: “Bring daai vark uit daai huis”.
    Adjudant Offsier Sidney Cloete, was sooo kwaad..hy skop die deur oop en ons storm in. Die kind het steeds gegil en toe ons in die kamer kom, staan die pa met die seun en probeer al heeloggend om vir die kind ‘n blou bul trui aan te trek…die gemors!!!!!

  • 52

    50 @ Tassies:
    Hi Tassies no doubt he casting an eye on his rumoured captain Hartley…
    Racing were lucky to get away with the draw with Dan Carter’s attempted clearance kick from within the in goal area being charged down, how Northampton didn’t manage to score a try from that I don’t know, wonder if that will come back to bite them for qualification for the knockout stages.

  • 53

    @ nortie: that is one wicked sense of humour you have Nortie. And you manage to survive living in Bulls country?

  • 54

    @ Bullscot: No doubt at all. And a few others. My eye was glued on Vic. Had a decent game offering a huge contribution. I did note that he ‘all his new buddies’ to take the lineout balls. Maybe he’s the on-field lineout coach.

  • 55

    And on that note : EVERYONE enjoy a decent Xmas with your respective families and for heaven’s sake be careful on the roads. Spoked after tomorrow and before New Year. There’s a Boxing Day Test to look forward to.
    Cheers

  • 57

    @ Tassies:
    Hi Tassies, have a very blessed Christmas with your family.

  • 58

    @ BrumbiesBoy:
    Hi BB ja a really tough time for those guys feel for them at any time of the year but even more so at this time. All the best to you and your loved one, have a Blessed Christmas.

  • 59

    @ Bullscot:
    Thanks Bully, all the best to you & your family as well.

    And Season’s Greetings to each & every one of R-T’s readers & bloggers as well, may you have a wonderful time with those important people & animals etc in your lives.

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