English second-tier club Bristol challenged an attempt by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) on Tuesday to appoint their coach Steve Borthwick as England’s new forwards coach.
The RFU announced that Borthwick, a former England captain, had been appointed by new head coach Eddie Jones, but an hour later Bristol said that the governing body had spoken to him without the club’s permission.
“Steve Borthwick has today indicated to the club that he wishes to join the RFU coaching team,” Bristol said in a strongly worded statement on their website.
“Bristol Rugby want to make it clear that we have not agreed that Steve Borthwick can leave our employment.
“Steve Borthwick is subject to a recently signed long-term employment contract. Bristol Rugby did not give the RFU permission to speak with Steve Borthwick.
“Bristol Rugby will take all reasonable actions as necessary to protect the club’s position and, therefore, will not be making any further statement at this stage.”
The stand-off is hugely embarrassing for the RFU, which had hoped that by appointing Jones it would draw a line beneath the humiliation of England’s World Cup group-stage exit on home soil in October.
Borthwick, who won 57 England caps and played in the 2007 World Cup final, is a line-out specialist and worked with Australian Jones in the Japan set-up before joining Bristol.
“This is a huge honour to be asked, as these chances don’t come around often,” the 36-year-old said in an RFU press release published before Bristol’s rebuttal.
“We have an exciting group of players in England and I am really looking forward to the challenge and getting England beating the best teams in the world.”
Jones began work earlier this month after being appointed on a four-year contract as the successor to Stuart Lancaster, whose tenure ended after the World Cup.
“I’m delighted that Steve has joined my coaching set-up,” Jones said. “I have known him for a long time through Saracens and Japan and he has done fantastic work as a coach.
“Steve has a huge amount of international experience as a player and a captain and his coaching in Japan in recent years shows he can get the best out of the players at the highest level.
“He is a great addition and I look forward to working with him again as we look ahead to the start of the RBS 6 Nations next year.”