New deal with clubs hands England coach more control, but he will need to win over doubters and resolve big questions
In the Lock No 5 bar – a room in Twickenham’s east stand dedicated to second-rows – Steve Borthwick was conspicuous by his absence. English rugby’s power brokers had gathered to unveil the vaunted new agreement which will shape the landscape of the game but the national team head coach was nowhere to be seen. Perhaps he was busy trying to fill the gaps in his backroom staff.
The Professional Game Partnership (PGP) governs how club and country coexist, how the Rugby Football Union and Premiership Rugby cooperate. There was backslapping, talk of “landmark agreements” and “historic collaboration”, but pick through the bones of it and it is clear that whether it succeeds or fails rests almost entirely on Borthwick’s shoulders.
Written by Gerard Meagher
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/sep/04/borthwick-amasses-great-power-but-fresh-responsibility-may-weigh-heavy under the title “Borthwick amasses great power but fresh responsibility may weigh heavy | Gerard Meagher”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
