England are reportedly set to make a decision on Eddie Jones ' future as head coach in the coming days after a crunch meeting with a review panel.
Jones has been at the helm of England rugby since November 2015 and was expected to leave when his contract runs out in October 2023 - after next year's Rugby World Cup in France. However, Jones is set to meet with a review panel today before RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney reports his findings to the organisation's board tomorrow.
The Daily Mail have reported that the process is 'going to be quick' but it could cost the RFU between £650,000 to £700,000 to pay off Jones' contract.
An urgent and forensic inquest is ongoing following just one win from four matches during November and five victories in 12 Tests this year. With the pressure already on Jones England lost 27-13 to a depleted South African side last weekend at Twickenham.
Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick is expected to be offered the job after being muted for the role on Jones' departure next year. The financial cost of sacking Jones could be over £1million if his assistants Richard Cockerill, Martin Gleeson and Matt Proudfoot follow him out the door.
England could place Jones on gardening leave so the Australian isn't snapped up by any of the country's World Cup opponents.
Should Eddie Jones be replaced as England head coach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section
"England are not just losing, they are going backwards at an alarming rate of knots," former England head coach Clive Woodward wrote in the Mail.
"As England coach you need to care very much what people think. The RFU have to start getting tough on Jones. He needs to feel some serious heat from his employers. I would say to him: 'Forget the next World Cup, if you lose your next game against Scotland in the Six Nations you're out of your job.' If Jones has to get paid off and we need to raise the money for that to happen, then so be it.”
