England head coach Steve Borthwick is set to have his contract extended beyond the 2028 Six Nations, giving him more time to prepare for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The Rugby Football Union (RFU), which oversees rugby in England, has previously taken a similar approach with the head coach of the England women's team, John Mitchell, before the 2025 World Cup. RFU performance director Conor O'Shea explained that extending Borthwick's contract into mid-2028 will provide the coaching staff with stability and clarity as they plan for the World Cup. O'Shea emphasized the importance of not leaving the coaching team uncertain about their roles before a major tournament, saying, "You don't want them looking for a job going into [a World Cup]." After a review of England's performance in the Six Nations, Borthwick has been given the green light to continue leading the team through to the World Cup. O'Shea expressed confidence that Borthwick will remain in charge for the tournament in Australia. In the July leg of the Nations Championship, England bounced back from a loss to South Africa by beating Fiji and Argentina, securing two wins out of three matches. However, the RFU has not yet offered Borthwick a long-term contract, unlike Ireland, which has signed head coach Andy Farrell through to 2031. O'Shea praised Borthwick for his deep commitment to England's success, saying, "I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine." He also expressed confidence in the team's ability to win the World Cup, stating, "This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win a World Cup." Regarding player eligibility, Borthwick is limited to selecting players who are based in the English Premiership, which excludes some top talents like Jack Willis, who plays for Toulouse in the French Top 14. Cap centurion Courtney Lawes, who recently returned to English rugby after playing in France, has called for a review of the policy to ensure the best players are available. O'Shea, however, argues that the current policy helps English rugby by encouraging investment in domestic leagues. He warned that if top players were allowed to leave, it could reduce investment in the English Premiership, stating, "If all the best players were picked by England and went abroad, and we had less of the top players in our league, the unintended consequence towards investment into that from some of our owners... why would you invest in the pathways if the best players are going to be taken away?" O'Shea also highlighted the success of the England women's team, which has been unbeaten for four years and has won every Six Nations since 2018. Despite having more resources and players than many of their rivals, he rejected the idea that the Red Roses can ever be too strong. He compared their dominance to that of athletes like Tiger Woods and Serena Williams, saying that celebrating such success is entirely appropriate.