Gustard on three-strong England defence coach shortlist

Former England adjunct coach Paul Gustard, Oyannax caput coach Joe El-Abd, and Stormers adjunct Norman Laker are each successful contention to switch Felix Jones arsenic England defence coach.

England leader Steve Borthwick has quickly moved to find a replacement for Jones, who handed successful his daze resignation past month.

While nan Irishman has a 12-month announcement period, it is expected an announcement connected Jones' successor could beryllium imminent.

England’s adjacent lucifer is against New Zealand astatine Allianz Stadium successful Twickenham connected 2 November.

Gustard worked arsenic an adjunct nether Eddie Jones from 2016 to 2018, helping nan broadside to back-to-back Six Nations titles.

He moved to Harlequins arsenic Head of Rugby successful nan summertime of 2018 earlier stints astatine Benetton and Stade Francais, pinch nan nine reaching nan Top 14 semi-finals earlier this year.

Another beardown campaigner is nan erstwhile Bristol flanker El-Abd, who has forged an awesome coaching profession successful France pursuing his status successful 2014 and is known to beryllium a adjacent confidante of Borthwick’s.

Meanwhile, Laker has emerged arsenic a left-field contender to move to Twickenham aft being a cardinal portion of nan coaching unit astatine South African broadside Stormers, who won nan United Rugby Championship successful 2022 and reached nan last a twelvemonth later.

All 3 are believed to person spoken to Borthwick successful nan past fewer weeks, pinch an announcement expected by nan extremity of nan month.