- The England coach will be touring America while the Lions play
- Steve Borthwick previously worked as an assistant on the 2017 Lions tour.
- He had been tipped to join Andy Farrell as forwards coach next year.
Steve Borthwick will be in charge of England’s potential tour of the Americas next summer after ruling himself out for a role in the Lions management team.
The 44-year-old is widely regarded as one of world rugby’s leading forwards coaches and was hailed for his impact during the tour of New Zealand in 2017, when the Lions fought back to earn a respectable 1-1 series draw. against the All blacks.
Andy Farrell worked with him on that crusade and is now leading the next one, to Australia in 2025, but he will not have the option of calling on the experience of his former teammate at Saracens and Red Rose.
Borthwick is understood to have indicated he would not accept an invitation to join the British and Irish company Down Under as he is determined to prioritize the development of his promising young England team.
With several key players absent on Lions duty, the Cumbrian will look to form a new contingent during a tour that could include a trial in the US and two in Argentina, as first revealed by Mail Sport.
Steve Borthwick will be in charge of England’s possible tour of America next summer
The English coach has ruled out the possibility of joining the Lions tour next year
Borthwick is determined to prioritize the development of his promising young England team
However, England may still have some representation among the Lions coaching group. Borthwick and the RFU are believed to support any proposal for one of the attendees to go to Australia.
That leaves the door open for Richard Wigglesworth, Felix Jones and Kevin Sinfield to be considered for attacking, defensive or skill and mentor roles respectively.
Farrell will continue in his day job as Ireland head coach until after the autumn trial window, when he will then switch to Lions mode.
Recent tradition dictates that he will look to name his assistants in late 2024 or early in the new year, to allow enough time for tour preparations.
The 44-year-old (far right) was hailed for his impact during the Lions’ tour of New Zealand in 2017.
Ireland head coach Andy Farrell will lead the Lions’ management during next year’s tour of Australia.
In 12 months’ time, on June 28, the four-nation team will play its first match in Australia, against the Western Force in Perth, at the start of a nine-match itinerary in Australia that will culminate in three tests against the Wallabies. They will warm up before leaving with a clash against Argentina in Dublin on June 20 next year.
Several high-profile candidates have already had their names verified as candidates for inclusion in the management team. Farrell could turn to his Irish assistant, Paul O’Connell, to oversee the forwards, while another Irish icon, La Rochelle head coach Ronan O’Gara, could be considered as a wildcard option, subject to agreeing a release. of his club.
Adam Jones has expressed interest in becoming a scrum coach and Scotland head coach Gregor Townsend will once again be the favorite to coordinate the attack. Their defense coach, Welshman Steve Tandy, is another who could be asked to play the same role he played in 2021, when the Lions lost the Covid-era hollow series against South Africa 2-1.
However, Shaun Edwards could join forces with his long-time Wigan teammate and serve as a defensive guru, if France would allow him to.