By RugbyFan
December 19 2022

Steve Borthwick has been announced as England men’s head coach with Kevin Sinfield OBE appointed defence coach.Former England captain Borthwick has signed a five-year contract and returns to the RFU having also been forwards coach between 2015-20. The wider coaching team to support Borthwick will be announced in the coming weeks as the Guinness Six Nations approaches.

Borthwick started his playing career at Preston Grasshoppers, he represented England Schools, Colts U21 and Saxons. He played lock in 57 Tests for England from 2001-2010 and captained the side 21 times. He played Premiership rugby for ten years at Bath and six years at Saracens; captained both teams and became a Premiership winner in 2011 making 265 Premiership appearances, a record at the time. 

His coaching career has included positions with Saracens and Leicester Tigers, where he led the team to winning the 2021-22 Premiership title.  He was also recognised as the season’s Director of Rugby, having spearheaded the club’s best winning run for 25 years.  

In his international coaching career, Borthwick worked as forwards coach in two Rugby World Cup cycles alongside Eddie Jones for Japan from 2012 to 2015 and for England between 2015 and 2020, with England reaching the final at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.  He also coached on the British and Irish Lions’ tour of New Zealand in 2017 which saw the side draw the Test series against the All Blacks. 

Steve Borthwick said: "I'm deeply honoured to be appointed England head coach, and I am very excited by the challenge. 

"The English game is full of talent and I want to build a winning team which makes the most of our huge potential and inspires young people to fall in love with rugby union the way I did.  I want the whole country to be proud of us and to enjoy watching us play. 

"The hard work starts now and planning for the Guinness Six Nations and Rugby World Cup begins today.  I will give it everything.” 

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