Stuart Lancaster extends contract as England head coach

• Posted on October 1, 2014October 1, 2014
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has extended his contract with the Rugby Football Union until 2020.

Lancaster’s coaching team – forwards coach Graham Rowntree, backs coach Andy Farrell and attacking skills coach Mike Catt – have also now been contracted to the end of the 2019/20 season, taking them through to the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Lancaster, 44, was appointed as permanent head coach in March 2012 following a spell as interim coach which started after England’s quarter-final exit from the 2011 World Cup and Martin Johnson’s departure.

The former Leeds boss has since taken charge of the team for 30 matches and has an overall win record of 60 per cent with 18 victories, 11 defeats and one draw.

After signing his six-year contract extension, Lancaster told englandrugby.com: “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.

“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.

Right direction

“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.”

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said: “We are lucky to have a talented, committed and passionate coaching group.

“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.”

Former England and British Lions front-rower Rowntree joined the RFU as a national academy coach in 2007, progressing to Johnson’s backroom staff.

Ex dual-code international Farrell left Saracens for the England backs coach role in June 2012, while 2003 World Cup winner Catt joined Lancaster’s staff in September 2012.

-skysports