England
England coaches extend contracts until 2020
ESPN Staff
October 1, 2014
Stuart Lancaster will remain England coach until 2020 © Getty Images
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England boss Stuart Lancaster and his other assistant coaches have signed new deals until 2020. With the home World Cup a year away, the news will come as a massive boost for the management as they prepare the team for the global gathering. The coaches penned permanent contracts in 2012 which took them through until 2016 but the new deal will see them take England to the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan. "We are lucky to have a talented, committed and passionate coaching group," RFU CEO Ian Ritchie said. "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." Pressure still on Lancaster despite new deal
Lancaster was delighted to sign the new deal. "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," he said. "We want to build a team to Japan 2019 and beyond "While our focus is on the 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. 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." Lancaster took on the role of interim coach in the wake of the wretched 2011 Rugby World Cup. He was joined by Graham Rowntree, the sole survivor of the Martin Johnson-era, and Andy Farrell who was seconded to the RFU by Saracens. Following a Six Nations which saw them finish second in 2012, Lancaster, Rowntree and Farrell were offered permanent deals with the latter waiting a couple of months before committing to the RFU. Mike Catt was then brought in from London Irish and joined after their tour to South Africa in the summer of 2012. Since then England have come close to winning the Six Nations but have finished bridesmaids on each occasion. Lancaster's team have found it hard to win on the road in the southern hemisphere but have seen off Australia and New Zealand at Twickenham. Lancaster's next action will be to unveil his new-look Elite Player Squad for the 2014 internationals on October 22 before then coaching his team through the four-Test November series against New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Australia. © ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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