England's coaching staff is set for a further shake-up after Richard Cockerill confirmed he'll depart for French outfit Montpellier after the 2023 Guinness Six Nations.
Steve Borthwick kept the forwards coach on after he replaced Eddie Jones at the helm in December, with Cockerill having also held the reins on an interim basis prior to that announcement. Borthwick, 43, said it was a "difficult decision" to part ways but gave the former Leicester Tigers director of rugby his blessing.
"This opportunity [to join Montpellier] presented itself some time ago," said Cockerill, who joined Jones' staff in September 2021. "It is disappointing not to work with Steve and the wider team beyond the Six Nations. I had hoped to be able to stay for the Rugby World Cup, but the timings weren't meant to be.
"I will continue to be fully focused on England and this Six Nations campaign, working with this group of players as they begin a new journey together. It's exciting to see what change has happened so far in such a short period of time."
The Borthwick era got underway on Saturday when England surrendered 29-23 at home to Scotland in their first game of the Six Nations. That result—which saw Scotland claim three consecutive Calcutta Cup wins for the first time in half a century—was a reminder of the scale of Borthwick's task ahead of the World Cup in France.
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Cockerill's departure will see the final member of Jones' old coaching set-up take his leave, with the 52-year-old set to join Philippe Saint-Andre's staff overseeing the forwards in southern France. Former England hooker Cockerill previously spent two seasons playing for Montferrand (now Clermont Auvergne), not far north of Montpellier, between 2002 and 2004.
Saracens forwards and set-piece coach Ian Peel is the name touted to take over from Cockerill ahead of this year's Rugby World Cup. Peel has held the same position with Premiership giants Sarries since December 2015, having previously had notable success coaching England's under-20 set-up.
The England age-grade team won successive Junior World Championships in 2013 and 2014 with former Newcastle Falcon Peel in charge, as well as a runner-up finish in 2015. They also enjoyed a run to the Under-20 Six Nations final in 2014 before going on to lift that crown under Peel's tutelage the following year.
Cockerill was previously linked with the England head coach job after former boss Jones was dismissed following a dismal run of results in 2022. The former Toulon boss described it as "an honour" to have coached and played for his country as he prepares to begin a new chapter in his return to the Top 14.
News of Cockerill's departure came on the same day it was confirmed Borthwick has returned to former employer Leicester to lure Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters to his staff. Tigers incumbent chief Wigglesworth will join as assistant, while Walters will head the strength and conditioning department.
