Saracens have confirmed that Paul Gustard has been offered a role as England assistant coach by Eddie Jones.
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“Going forward, taking over the side with a short period of time, we’ve had some coaches in place and they’ve done a fantastic job for England for a period of time”, Jones told ERTV.
England’s coaching overhaul gathered pace Monday with the departures of Mike Catt, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree after a poor performance at the Rugby World Cup.
The trio assisted Stuart Lancaster during the the Red Rose’s ill-fated World Cup campaign on home soil, which saw them crash out at the group stage.
The search for an attack coach may take longer but it will not be Mike Catt, who is also on his way out with Jones’s new broom sweeping through Twickenham. When you have built a project like this you will have people who move on.
Jones has also offered Bristol forwards coach Steve Borthwick a role, although the financially buoyant Championship club are digging their heels in over his contract in the hope the former England coach could still be released back to them outside the worldwide windows.
Saracens confirmed yesterday that their defence coach, Gustard, has been approached to fill one of those roles made vacant. Paul is under contract for 18 months so I am sure that will be sorted out over the next couple of days.
Gustard has been an integral part of Saracens’ success under McCall, including winning the Aviva Premiership title last season and being a consistent force in Europe.
He played 75 times for England – including four World Cups – after making his debut in 1994.
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Jones was behind the 39-year-old’s move into coaching when the Australian was at the club six years ago, and the former Leicester, London Irish and Saracens flanker has made defence his speciality. Steve worked with Eddie in Japan and knows what he brings to the party and so there is no risk.
