The RFU respond to Erasmus link

The RFU have denied holding talks with Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus after a story surfaced on Sunday morning stating that England were holding talks with the Springbok Director of Rugby to possibly succeed Eddie Jones as England head coach.

A report by South African newspaper, the Rapport, stated that Twickenham is exploring the option of recruiting Erasmus.

The 47-year-old was present at Murrayfield on Saturday as England edged Scotland 13-6 in the Six Nations, relieving pressure on Jones in the wake of successive defeats.

Jones is contracted to remain Red Rose boss until July 2021 and while his future beyond then is uncertain, an RFU spokesman told the PA news agency that “we strongly dismiss this story”.

Both Jones and RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney have declined to outline publicly the succession plan for when the Australian does step down, or whether he will still be in place at the next World Cup in 2023.

Rassie Erasmus stepped aside as the Springboks' head coach after the World Cup, appointing his long time assistant Jacques Nienaber in his place and is currently acting as South Africa’s director of rugby.