Lancaster steps down as England coach

Stuart Lancaster has resigned as England head coach after a meeting with RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, cancelling the six-year contract that he agreed in last October.
Defeats to Wales and Australia led to a humiliating World Cup exit at the Pool Stages, and Lancaster has taken the option to resign rather than be handed the sack by the RFU review panel that concluded its “extremely comprehensive” analysis of England’s downfall.
Lancaster echoed his disappointment at England’s shortcomings on home turf: “I am obviously extremely saddened to finish the way we did in this World Cup and to step down from the role. As I have always said, I ultimately accept and take responsibility for the team’s performance and we have not delivered the results we all hoped for during this tournament.
“I did, however, want to take part in the review to ensure I understood the views of others before making a decision. The reality is that, while many aspects of the review were very positive, we didn’t achieve success on the field when it mattered and we all have to take responsibility for that but me especially as head coach,” Lancaster said, with England winning against Fiji and Uruguay.
Though heading for the exit at Twickenham Lancaster, who was made England head coach in March 2012, made clear his belief in his squad to come back stronger.
“I am immensely proud of the development of this team and I know that there is an incredibly strong foundation for them to progress to great things in the future. We have played some excellent rugby and it was always going to be tough to get the right level of experience into them in time for 2015. It is a young group of players with the huge majority available for the Rugby World Cup in Japan in 2019, where I believe their recent experience will make them genuine contenders.”
RFU chief executive, Ian Ritchie, said: ”The Rugby World Cup was hugely disappointing for everyone associated with the England team and the subsequent review into the team’s performance was always intended to be extremely comprehensive, which it has been.
“Stuart has been fully involved and has given feedback as well as the other coaches, players, management and a wide variety of people from around the game. Following the review, Stuart and I met, where we agreed that he should step down as head coach. This was subsequently ratified by the RFU Board.”
The position of other senior backroom staff members is unknown with, Andy Farrell, Graham Rowntree and Mike Catt still the subject of the review panel, as well as RFU board member Rob Andrew.