RFU stance might rule out Premiership Rugby coaches from England role

The chances of an English coach succeeding Eddie Jones look bleak after the Rugby Football Union (RFU) chief executive Ian Ritchie had urged the domestic coaches to gain international experience before being considered for the national role.

Ritchie's sentiment was reciprocated by the union's professional rugby director Nigel Melville, as he believes being a Premiership Rugby coach alone might not be sufficient for England's top post.

Notwithstanding the criteria laid by the RFU, Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Baxter and Northampton Saints rugby director Jim Mallinder said going overseas will have high risks.

"It would be a huge risk for me personally to move abroad, for me, for my family," said Exeter coach Baxter.

"You're probably ruling out your majority of Premiership coaches, because there won't be many who will think, 'okay then, I'll stop this now and go and get a job in Japan', it's not going to happen. There's a reality to that.

"As much as it's a valid argument about experience it's probably ruling out the majority of English coaches for quite a long time.

"I think that's the consensus among Premiership coaches. It's not a conflict between us and the RFU though, just more each of us going through sensible arguments around the situation."

Earlier, Jones urged the RFU to allow English coaches to join Super Rugby teams to get a better understanding of the game as he also believes grooming an English coach during his stint to succeed him will be a part of his role too.

England's assistant coaches Steve Borthwick and Paul Gustard have plenty of experiences and are among the front-runners to replace Jones after the 2019 World Cup while Exeter assistant Ali Hepher and Northampton coach Alan Dickens have also coached the England Saxons side in South Africa recently.

Baxter himself was part of the coaching panel headed by Stuart Lancaster during England's tour of Argentina in 2013.

Northampton boss Mallinder believes a successful Premiership coach can handle the challenges at the international level considering the competitiveness in Aviva Premiership and European tournaments these days.

"I'd always like to see an English coach coaching the England side," said Mallinder.

"There are lots of advantages of the Premiership and the European Champions Cup. These are tough games in Europe and the Premiership.

"The RFU has never gone down the route of trying an experienced, successful coach from the Premiership. Obviously they have employed English coaches, but not someone who has worked hard and gained extensive Premiership experience.

"I think in all these top teams now we've got in England, coaches are looking after international players. That's what the job is.

"Rob Baxter, Ali Hepher and Alan Dickens with us at Saints, they have all coached with the Saxons, so they have had some experience as well."

Even though, Baxter admitted that Jones selection was spot on as results have shown, he also reminded that never before RFU had considered the experience of coaching a Premiership Rugby team for England coaching role.

"It's already been proved at this stage the correct call to go and get Eddie Jones," said Baxter.

"But where was this instance when an established Premiership coach was selected for the England job, and failed? It hasn't happened.

"Where was a Jim Mallinder, a Richard Cockerill, or a Mark McCall?

"Quite a few have had Premiership success but none have had a chance at the England job.

"Mark McCall must have managed, developed and coached as many international players as some Test coaches. Why would coaching overseas necessarily make him a better coach?

"Why not give someone like him the job and then we can examine whether the Premiership is a good breeding ground for England coaches, because we don't know at this point."