Jason Leonard wants to see Andy Farrell with England – Rugby News Update
Jason Leonard, the former England prop has said that Andy Farrell deserves a call up to the England coaching staff, as the former centre resigned from his position at the Saracens before the end of his contract.
Farrell has been offered the job to coach England under Stuart Lancaster, the head coach, during the three-match tour of South Africa, but he refused, insisting that he wanted to see out his contract with the Saracens.
However, in a dramatic u-turn, the former dual-code player has resigned from the Saracens, with rumours rife that he is soon to be called-up by his country in a coaching capacity. England is currently touring South Africa, and in Farrell’s position, Mike
Catt of the London Irish was given the job on an interim basis.
Leonard believes that everyone would love to see Farrell in the England tracksuit and he feels that he will be reinstated once Lancaster returns from the southern hemisphere.
"From an English perspective, England would love to see him as part of the coaching setup," Leonard told
ESPNscrum. "Everyone spoke very highly of his contribution during the Six Nations when he was allowed leave from his club commitments with Saracens to help England out."
After the disastrous 2011 Rugby World Cup, Lancaster was given the reins of England, and Farrell was part of the coaching setup for the 2012 Six Nations. Lancaster was very impressed by the former centre’s contribution and Leonard believes this is the reason
why he will make a return.
Leonard is hopeful when he says, "I'm pretty sure Lancaster is very busy at this moment in time but after the tour is finished there has got to be conversations about whether there's space for another coach; I'm sure there is after hearing he did an immense
job in the Six Nations. Hopefully that conversation will take place."
There is no reason why England cannot have an extra coach, and there is every possibility that he can be the fourth coach.
Farrell played 8 times for England, making his debut against Scotland at Twickenham, on February 3, 2007, and played his last match against Tonga at Parc des Princes in the same year.
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