Joe El-Abd is on the verge of joining England Rugby as the new defence coach. The 44-year-old former flanker, who is currently the head coach of French team Oyonnax, is expected to be in place for the upcoming November internationals. El-Abd, who played over 100 times for Bristol in the 2000s, has also had stints with Caerphilly in Wales and in France with Toulon and Oyonnax.
His coaching career has been impressive, with successful spells at Oyonnax and Castres in France. El-Abd is known to have a close relationship with England boss Steve Borthwick, as they were former flat-mates at Bath University. Despite competition from other candidates like Paul Gustard and Norman Laker, El-Abd has emerged as the frontrunner for the role.
Although El-Abd is expected to start his new role in time for England’s training camp in October, Felix Jones, the outgoing defence coach, will continue to be part of the coaching team for the short term. Jones is currently serving his notice period after resigning last month. There is speculation that he may be in high demand due to his success in winning back-to-back World Cups with South Africa.
In other news, Kevin Sinfield is close to finalizing a new contract with the Rugby Football Union. This agreement would see him remain on the coaching staff but with reduced hours. Sinfield’s experience and expertise will be valuable assets to the team as they prepare for upcoming fixtures, including the highly anticipated Test against New Zealand at Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium on 2nd November. The addition of El-Abd and the potential continuation of Jones and Sinfield on the coaching staff will bring a wealth of knowledge and skills to the England Rugby team, as they aim to continue their success on the international stage.
