As the bookies go wild with anticipation, following the news that Stuart Lancaster has stepped down as England head coach, we want to know who you would like to see in the top job.
After serving as an interim, Lancaster was appointed full-time head coach in April 2012. His most notable success came as he oversaw a 38-21 win over New Zealand in December of that year. However, under him England finished second in all of the previous four Six Nations Championships and in this year’s Rugby World Cup his side failed to progress from the group stages – England’s worst ever showing in a World Cup.
Now the hunt is on for his replacement, with England’s CEO Ian Ritchie saying: “Looking forward, we will leave no stone unturned to ensure England achieves sustained success in the future.”
But what does that mean? Perhaps under one stone Ritchie will find one of these men below.
Our list ranges from the sublime to the crazy – how likely is it that Jonny Wilkinson will be the next England head coach? – with several high-flying directors of rugby from top Aviva Premiership clubs present. A few names that keep popping up include Rob Baxter of Exeter Chiefs, Mike Ford of Bath and Jim Mallinder of Northampton Saints. Dean Ryan of Worcester Warriors gets some tipping, too.
Maybe you’d like to see Shaun Edwards leave Wales and join up with England? Maybe you’d want a glorious return for 2003’s World Cup-winning honcho Sir Clive Woodward? Or perhaps you’d like to see someone from beyond England’s shores. We also offer up South Africa‘s 2007 World Cup-winning boss Jake White and his assistant at the time Eddie Jones, who also led Australia to the final in 2003 and who pushed Japan to victory over the Springboks in this year’s World Cup. Maybe you want Warren Gatland!
The choice, as they say, is yours!