Stuart Lancaster has stepped down as England head coach by “mutual consent”, England’s Rugby Football Union announced on Wednesday.
Lancaster’s departure, three and a half years after his appointment, was expected in the light of England’s disastrous World Cup campaign, which saw the hosts eliminated in the group phase.
“I am obviously extremely saddened to finish the way we did in this World Cup and to step down from the role,” Lancaster said in a statement released by the RFU.
“As I have always said, I ultimately accept and take responsibility for the team’s performance and we have not delivered the results we all hoped for during this tournament.”