Former England assistant coach Paul Gustard, Oyannax head coach Joe El-Abd, and Stormers assistant Norman Laker are all in competition to switch Felix Jones as England defence coach.
England boss Steve Borthwick has shortly moved to discover a substitute for Jones, who handed in his shock resignation final month.
Whereas the Irishman has a 12-month discover interval, it’s anticipated an announcement on Jones’ successor might be imminent.
England’s subsequent match is in opposition to New Zealand at Allianz Stadium in Twickenham on 2 November.
Gustard labored as an assistant below Eddie Jones from 2016 to 2018, serving to the aspect to back-to-back Six Nations titles.
He moved to Harlequins as Head of Rugby in the summertime of 2018 earlier than stints at Benetton and Stade Francais, with the membership reaching the Prime 14 semi-finals earlier this yr.
One other robust candidate is the previous Bristol flanker El-Abd, who has solid a formidable teaching profession in France following his retirement in 2014 and is thought to be a detailed confidante of Borthwick’s.
In the meantime, Laker has emerged as a left-field contender to maneuver to Twickenham after being a key a part of the teaching workers at South African aspect Stormers, who received the United Rugby Championship in 2022 and reached the ultimate a yr later.
All three are believed to have spoken to Borthwick prior to now few weeks, with an announcement anticipated by the top of the month.