The Rugby Football League (RFL) is on the verge of naming the next head coach for the England men's national team, with an official announcement expected in the coming weeks.
The search was triggered by the sudden departure of Shaun Wane in January. Wane, who took the reins from Wayne Bennett in 2020, stepped down just nine months before the highly anticipated 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
A high-profile selection panel has been tasked with vetting candidates and delivering a final recommendation to the RFL board. The search committee features former England skipper Kevin Sinfield, interim RFL chief executive Abi Ekoku, RFL chair Nigel Wood, and non-executive director Sara Symington.
"We are entering a crucial time as we bid to secure the right person to lead England's men's team into the upcoming World Cup," Wood stated, noting that the opening has attracted significant interest. "We have had applications and enquiries from a wide range of world-class coaches, from both here and in the NRL."
Unlike Wane's full-time tenure, the newly appointed coach will operate on a part-time basis, with the initial contract focusing exclusively on this year's World Cup campaign.
Wane's legacy with the squad includes a heartbreaking golden-point semi-final exit against Samoa during the home World Cup in 2022. While he successfully guided England to home series victories over Tonga and Samoa in subsequent years, a bruising 3-0 Ashes series sweep by Australia last autumn marked a turning point.
Despite insisting after the Ashes defeat that he remained the right man for the job, Wane ultimately resigned at the start of the year. In his farewell statement, he called the role the "honour of my life," but acknowledged it was time for the program to embark on its next chapter.
The incoming coach faces an immediate trial by fire. England will kick off their World Cup journey on October 17 against Tonga in Perth, followed by critical pool-stage clashes with France and Papua New Guinea.