England retain coaches until 2020
The Rugby Football Union have decided to retain Stuart Lancaster as the Head Coach of England and have extended his contract until 2020.
His tenure in charge of the team is now set to include the 2019 World Cup in Japan after being handed the permanent role in 2012.
Lancaster’s coaching team, Forwards Coach Graham Rowntree, Backs Coach Andy Farrell and Attacking Skills Coach Mike Catt, have also had their contracts extended to the end of the 2019-20 season.
RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie believes stability is important in building international teams and said that starts with the coaches.
"We are lucky to have a talented, committed and passionate coaching group.
"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," he said
Lancaster took charge as interim boss after England’s quarterfinal exit from the 2011 World Cup and led the side to second place in the Six Nations, therein winning the permanent head coach position.
The 38-21 victory over New Zealand, England’s record margin over the All Blacks, followed in December 2012 before two more second place finishes in the 2013 and 2014 Six Nations.
The 44 year-old has an overall win percentage of 60 per cent, having played 30, won 18, loss 11 and drawn one. South Africa, one of four teams who are heading to Twickenham later this year, remain the only team he is yet to beat.
Lancaster is delighted to extend his contract and is determined to achieve sustainable success.
"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.
"While our focus is on the internationals [later this year] and the 2015 World Cup on home soil, we want to build a team for England Rugby that leads into Japan in 2019 and beyond.
"We believe 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," he said.
Rowntree has been at the RFU since 2007 after first joining as England National Academy coach in June 2007 and graduating into Martin Johnson’s set-up soon after.
He was retained after the 2011 World Cup, while dual-code international Farrell became backs coach in June 2012.
The final addition was 2003 World Cup winner Catt, who joined in September 2012.
