IT’S a shame to see the RFU lose another top coach as England U20 boss Steve Bates follows Dean Ryan out the door.
England may not have won the U20 World Championship under Bates but they pushed a stellar French side all the way in the 2018 final and were unlucky this year after Alfie Barbeary’s red card against Ireland cost them dear.
I wonder if losing his best player to the meaningless Barbarians game – Marcus Smith – days before the tournament affected Bates’ decision to leave.
TOM DOTT via email

...