RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney is optimistic that an eight-year partnership for the men’s professional game launched on Wednesday will deliver long-term results for Steve Borthwick’s England side.
The CEO, who has given the manager 100 per cent of his backing following recent staff turmoil, did not hesitate to praise England’s record since winning the Rugby World Cup and Six Nations Grand Slam under Clive Woodward in 2003 at the Allianz Stadium opening.
“From a performance perspective, sport is about results, success,” he insisted. “We have been incredibly underperforming since 2003. We have only won the Six Nations Championships four times and the Grand Slam once: 2011, 2016, 2017 and 2020. You expect more from us and we definitely want to deliver more.
“We always believe that we have to compete in the Six Nations Championships and the Grand Slams. We always believe that we have to compete in the later stages of the World Cup knockouts to win the World Cup.
“We really believe that this gives us the mechanism and through working with the RPA, the players, the PRL clubs and the RFU we can actually do that and we are already seeing very good results.
“Winning the U20 Junior World Cup this year was 12 months early. We thought we could really compete next year. As Connor (O’Shea, the RFU’s performance director) said, we produced a stronger U20 side and then a stronger U18 side.
“A lot of that has already come through improving relationships and the way Conor and Phil (Winstanley in Premiership Rugby) and the club work together to approach players and develop them.
“So we think this is an exciting time for gaming. It’s a completely different look and feel and structure that’s going to dominate professional gaming going forward, and it’s a huge departure from previous professional gaming contracts.
“To be honest, after 18 months of really amicable negotiations, we are desperate to get out of deal fatigue and start actually executing and getting things done.”
This will allow Boswick to select up to 25 athletes from an enhanced elite squad and have final decision-making authority on all sports science and medical matters.
After an encouraging run at the Six Nations Championship and two courageous tours to New Zealand, Borthwick’s regime was shaken by the departure of S&C boss Aled Walters to Andy Farrell’s Ireland squad, while defence coach Felix Jones also resigned.
Sweeney is adamant that the staffing issues are not a repeat of the personnel merry-go-round that took place under Eddie Jones, Borthwick’s predecessor as England manager. Instead, he has given Borthwick his full support despite the sudden upheaval.
“We’re obviously very disappointed,” he said. “You’ve probably seen a lot of good momentum in New Zealand in terms of the way England have played while Steve has been manager. We’ve got a really good mix of experience and young players now.
“There’s a real excitement about it. The way we played in the latter stages of the Six Nations and in New Zealand was really encouraging and it’s just incredibly disappointing that it happened as we’re heading into the autumn. It just happened so suddenly. It was completely unexpected.
“But what I can say is that Steve has 100 per cent support from me and the RFU and the players in the team are 100 per cent behind him.
“He talked to the players on the team. They wanted to get the message across that we have a really fun environment at that camp. We have a good mix of experience and youth, we have fun, we have activities going on.
“They seem to really enjoy being at camp and want to have a coach who is passionate about our journey and the vision we have come in and embrace this new structure. To answer your question, it’s disappointing. Things happen. We’ve just got to focus on moving on.”
