PARIS, France — Jamie George has expressed his support for head coach Steve Borthwick and his coaching staff to continue guiding the team through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup following England’s disappointing performance in the Six Nations.
England concluded their 2026 championship with a narrow 48-46 loss to France in Paris, with Les Bleus clinching victory with the last kick of the match. The performance marked a significant improvement compared to their previous three matches, where they suffered defeats against Scotland, Ireland, and Italy.
The defeat against France resulted in England recording four losses, their worst performance in Six Nations history, intensifying scrutiny on Borthwick and the RFU’s support for his leadership.
Following the loss to Italy, the RFU released a statement indicating that Borthwick had until the conclusion of the Nations Championship to rectify the situation, and although they lost in Paris, the team’s performance demonstrated notable progress.
George, who has represented England since 2015 and has experienced a wide range of emotions in the jersey, emphasized the need for composure and asserted that England possesses the right framework to advance the team.
“Steve is one of the finest coaches I’ve ever worked with, and under his guidance, I believe we will be among the favorites to win the World Cup in 2027,” George stated. “We are a strong team, a talented group of players, and he is the ideal person to lead us there.
“I think he has been remarkable for English rugby; the events of the past few weeks have been quite surprising, and he is undoubtedly the right individual to guide us forward for an extended period. He is an English coach who is deeply passionate about this game and also an exceptionally skilled coach who has established an outstanding program.
“When you combine that with a solid group of players, it creates a formula for success. While it hasn’t been at the level it needs to be in recent weeks, the great thing about Steve is that we will have solutions, we will have clarity to ensure it doesn’t happen again, and we will be prepared and positioned to guarantee that this does not carry over onto the field again.”
The RFU will now conduct its standard post-tournament evaluation, and George hopes this coaching group will be permitted to continue into a summer schedule that includes matches against South Africa, Fiji, and Argentina.
“It’s an excellent program overall,” George remarked. “Honestly, the unity and how closely we have bonded during this time is the strongest indication that the right individuals are present, whether players or staff.
“Few other teams would perform as we did under such pressure and in high-stakes environments while maintaining our cohesion; it clearly indicates that every single person—coaches, players, and Steve—are in the right place.”
Sam Underhill also conveyed that the players have complete confidence in Borthwick. “You’re either fully committed, or you’re not, you know,” Underhill stated.
“This holds true in every environment I’ve experienced. There are always outside opinions, but ultimately, the only individuals present are the coaches and the players.
“No one from the outside is coming in. I haven’t encountered anyone with an external opinion who holds a position of significance. Not to dismiss it lightly, but the only people who will contribute to this group are those within it. So for me, [we] 100% [have full belief in Borthwick].”
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Reflecting on the campaign, George noted that England’s discipline issues persist as a significant concern, having received nine yellow cards throughout the tournament. While he acknowledges that England can take pride in their performance in Paris, they cannot overlook their overall disappointing results.
“I believe we should take pride in that performance, but I am not avoiding the reality that one in five is insufficient. That is not acceptable for an England team with considerable talent,” George remarked.
“The players must take accountability for that. The performances we delivered on the field in certain matches were not up to standard. Look, [in Paris] we gave it our all. We faced a very strong France team, and on another day, we might have secured that victory.
“We did not achieve the results, and this is a results-driven business. We are extremely frustrated with that. However, I hope we have brought some joy to England fans [after Paris], which is ultimately what matters, and restored a sense of pride in the jersey.
“I believe there should be considerable excitement as we approach the summer. The next challenge is significant. But hopefully, a couple of English teams will perform well in the Champions Cup, finishing the season strongly. Then we will face South Africa, which will be a major test for us.”
