England defence coach John Mitchell expressed his delight after extending his contract with the RFU until June 2021.
New Zealander Mitchell joined the England coaching set-up before the 2018 Autumn Internationals and played a key role as the Red Rose finished second in the 2019 Guinness Six Nations.
The vastly-experienced Mitchell was an England assistant coach between 1997 and 2000 under Sir Clive Woodward for 33 Tests before joining Eddie Jones’ team last year.
“I am delighted and privileged to be recommitting to England Rugby until 2021,” said Mitchell.
“This is the right decision for me especially given the RFU’s investment in me over the last year and what I have been able to add and learn so far, and will continue to do in the future.”
Since Mitchell started his involvement with the senior side, England have won six, drawn one and lost two Tests, conceding an impressive average of only 17 points a game.
He will now remain in his position until at least 2021, while the RFU also announced head coach Jones’ intention of seeing out the remaining two years of his own contract.
“We have extended John’s contract consistent with Eddie’s, so it goes through to June 2021,” said RFU CEO, Bill Sweeney. “Eddie has reconfirmed his commitment to stay through to 2021.
“The focus is on the World Cup and then making sure we get our plans in place post World Cup.
“We’ve already started conversations of what the coaching structure will look like coming back from Japan, and Eddie has a number of names in the frame.
“We haven’t approached them yet, and we wouldn’t contract anyone pre-World Cup, but he has in mind how he would like to structure that when back from Japan.”
