With Eddie Jones set to step down from his role as England’s head coach after the 2023 World Cup in France, the search for his successor is believed to already be underway, with a number of likely candidates being reported in the media.
Since taking the job in 2015 Jones has enjoyed a generally successful time in the role with highlights including leading the team to 3 Six Nations wins in 2016, 2017 and 2020. He was named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2017 and led England to the World Cup final two years later, where they were unlucky to be beaten by South Africa. Despite Jones’ success, many fans feel the time for change is coming, particularly in light of England’s performances at the last two Six Nations tournaments. Fortunately Jones would appear to have the chance to go out on a high with England ranked among the favourites for next year's World Cup according to Bet 365, one of the sites offering free bets that fans can make use of to back the squad on their march to victory.
Jones’ successor will certainly have a tough act to follow, but there are several candidates that fans and experts feel are capable of making the step up. Here are some of the most popular options.
Mark McCall
Mark McCall enjoyed a relatively successful playing career that featured 13 international caps without scoring before he was forced to retire at 31 due to injury. He started coaching with Ireland’s under 21 side before taking up a full-time role at Ulster, where he led the team to their 2006 Celtic League win. Fans immediately warmed to him as a coach, with nine of the team’s Irish contingent making their international bows under his purview.
He then moved to France to join the coaching staff at Castres and helped them secure Heineken Cup participation for the following season after finishing fifth, an outstanding achievement for a team that started the season in turmoil.
He has been director of rugby at Saracens since the 2010/11 season when he took over from Brendan Venter after originally joining as a coach. He has been hugely successful with Saracens with five league titles and three European Champions Cups. However, with reports that that Bill Sweeney prefers an English Jones replacement, he could miss out.
Rob Baxter
Rob Baxter is a legend of English rugby who has brought both success and style to Exeter in abundance. After an impressive career with the Chiefs in which he made over 250 appearances, he took up the role of head coach in 2009, achieving promotion to the Premiership in his first season. In the following years, he successfully established Exeter as a solid Premiership outfit, earning the Director of the Year award at the end of the 2011/12 season.
Not content with the already huge improvements he had made at that point, Baxter set about creating a talented team that could challenge the very best, both in England and Europe. He led Exeter to their first-ever Premiership title in 2017, when they defeated Wasps in a close final. They then went on to win first the Champions Cup, then the Premiership a week later, to complete an unprecedented League and European Cup double in 2020. Many feel that a move to the national team is now the next logical step for Baxter, whose attractive style of play will certainly please purists.
Andy Farrell
Rugby league hero Andy Farrell has carved out a successful path for himself as a coach, earning respect from fans and key figures in the game. After a successful 13-year league career with Wigan Warriors, he made the transition to the 15-man code in with Saracens, scoring a try on his debut.
He took up an assistant coach role at the London club after retiring and has managed to build a solid reputation within the game. He spent three years as a Saracens coach before going to work with England as a defence coach for four years. He then took up the same role with Ireland for three years, before being offered the head coach job, which he still occupies today. Under his watch, Ireland won the Triple Crown this year after they defeated Wales, England and Scotland at the Six Nations. Farrell has the advantage of having worked extensively with the RFU, and having his son as one of the team’s key players could also work in his favour come selection time.
