Rugby: Scott Robertson won't be named as new England coach, to remain with Crusaders for 2023

Scott Robertson will be in charge of the Crusaders in 2023 and will not be appointed England coach on Tuesday (NZ time).

With mounting speculation over the vacant role, Newshub can confirm Robertson has been overlooked and will instead turn his attention to an historic seventh Super Rugby title in seven years.

Sources at the Super Rugby champions say the club is "over the moon" to have Robertson locked in for the 2023 season.

Ronan O'Gara, Luke Whitelock and Scott Robertson.
Ronan O'Gara, Luke Whitelock and Scott Robertson. Photo credit: Getty Images

The English RFU will announce their new head coach on Monday night local time, two weeks after sacking Eddie Jones following an underwhelming 2022 season that included just one win in their Autumn Internationals. 

Reports in the UK suggest former England captain and current Leicester Tigers coach Steve Borthwick will be confirmed as Jones' successor. 

The Crusaders mastermind had been heavily linked to the job, and a meeting with Jones in Sydney earlier this year only added to the speculation.

Newshub understands Robertson met with the RFU over the role and there was mutual interest from both parties.

With Robertson remaining in New Zealand next season it opens the door for NZ Rugby to potentially begin discussions over the All Blacks job, which could become vacant after the World Cup, when Ian Foster's contract expires.

The All Blacks top job is by no means a one-horse race though, with Foster, Jamie Joseph, Joe Schmidt and Dave Rennie all potential suitors for the role from 2024 onwards.

Robertson's lack of international experience was one of the factors that cost him the job in 2019, but Newshub understands NZR is softening its stance on that requirement due to his overwhelming success in charge of the Crusaders and his widely praised rapport with players.

And with a record as compelling as Robertson's, the six time Super Rugby winning coach is certainly a front runner to replace Foster, a seventh in 2023 would only strengthen his case,

The Crusaders begin their Super Rugby Pacific defence against the Chiefs in Christchurch on February 24.