Lancaster handed new deal as England look beyond World Cup
Published:England head coach Stuart Lancaster has signed a contract extension with the Rugby Football Union which will keep him in the top job in English Rugby until 2020.
Lancaster, who will lead his side in next year’s World Cup on home soil, will also take charge of the 2019 World Cup campaign under the terms of his new six-year deal.
He is joined in signing a new deal at the RFU by his coaching team of Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Mike Catt as England look to build towards the 2019 World Cup.
“It’s great that the RFU have got faith in us as a coaching group and it’s support has been critical to what we have achieved to date,” said Lancaster.
“While our focus is on the QBE 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 take us forward and are excited about the challenge ahead.”
The former Leeds boss took the England reigns after the disastrous 2011 World Cup and after leading England to a second place finish in the 2012 Six Nations was handed the job on a permanent basis.
England have finished second in the Six Nations in each of the following seasons under Lancaster and have picked up wins over New Zealand and Australia under the current head coach.
The former school teacher has been building a squad towards winning next year’s World Cup but first they face the challenge of facing New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Australia on consecutive weekends in November.
After that they will be attempting to go one better under Lancaster in the 2015 Six Nations Championship.
England are 13/8 for a 27th Six Nations triumph early next year, while the Red Rose outfit are 5/1 for a first Grand Slam title since 2003.
England are 3/1 second favourites with Ladbrokes to win the World Cup behind New Zealand, who are 11/8 to retain their world crown on English soil.
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