Steve Borthwick will take charge of England today with Kevin Sinfield after Twickenham bosses met Leicester’s £1million compensation demand.
Rugby Football Union boss Bill Sweeney finally got his man to replace Eddie Jones - but had to bid four times his original offer to satisfy the Premiership champions.
Richard Wigglesworth is expected to be appointed as Tigers’ interim head coach, working alongside head of physical performance Aled Waters.
Borthwick, who captained England in 21 of his 57 Tests between 2001-10, leaves Welford Road with a season and a half left on his contract.
He has long been seen as heir apparent to the throne of Jones, whom he worked alongside as forwards coach for Japan and England.
When he quit England for Leicester in 2020 the now 43-year-old paid a heartfelt tribute to Jones for all he taught him.
“Every day getting up and trying to find a way to improve, find a way to win - that’s the everlasting impression Eddie left on me,” said the Cumbrian. “Now it’s about developing my own way of working.”
Two years on Leicester are Premiership champions, Jones is on the job market and Borthwick has 263 days to turn Six Nations also-rans into World Cup contenders.
England have nine Tests between now and then, starting on February 4 at Twickenham against Scotland, whom Jones failed to beat in four of the last five meetings.
The importance of Sinfield’s appointment as No.2 cannot be understated as he is an inspirational figure who will command immediate respect.
Not only is he a rugby league legend who forged a platinum reputation as a union defence coach in just 18 months, his fund-raising for motor neurone disease marks him out as an ironman in every sense.
