Former Wales head coach Warren Gatland is reportedly open to the idea of replacing Eddie Jones on an interim basis if the current England chief is fired.
The Rugby Football Union (RFU) has brought forward a review into Jones' position following a torrid run of form for the Red Rose. England won only five of their 12 Test fixtures in 2022, including just one win from four during the Autumn Nations Series.
It's a sorry state of affairs with less than a year until the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, encouraging some to believe change is needed sooner rather than later. The Daily Mail reported Gatland is being eyed as an option to take over on a short-term deal, with the New Zealander seemingly 'open to taking charge'.
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Jones, 62, was expected to end an eight-year spell at Twickenham following next year's World Cup, having led his side to a runner-up finish at the 2019 tournament in Japan. However, defeats to Argentina and South Africa this autumn—as well as a draw against the All Blacks —have failed to stir belief England are progressing under the Australian's guidance.
Gatland, 59, is a man in demand following rumours the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) could also make a move for his services should incumbent Wayne Pivac receive his marching orders. Wales lost to Italy in the final game of this year's Six Nations and more recently suffered their maiden defeat to minnows Georgia in Cardiff.
Since leaving his post at the Principality Stadium in 2019, Gatland returned to Super Rugby outfit the Chiefs in his native Hamilton. He remains director of rugby for the Waikato club but took a sabbatical in 2021 to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa.
The former Ireland and Wasps boss spent 12 years as Wales head coach and won four Six Nations titles in that time, including three Grand Slams. He also took the country to the World Cup semi-finals on two occasions (2011 and 2019), begging the question as to what he might be capable of with England's resources.
That being said, Gatland may be limited in his impact considering he'd have a little more than six months and few training camps to devise his World Cup blueprint. However, the veteran is proven at the elite level and is regarded by many as one of the best rugby coaches of all time.
"They wouldn’t let me back into Wales if I went and took on the enemy," Gatland said on The Good, The Bad and The Rugby podcast last month, having previously suggested he could never coach England given his history with bitter rivals Wales. "I loved my time in Wales, but you never say never about anything and we’ll see what happens over the next few months."
