Current England skills coach Kevin Sinfield is already confirmed to be leaving the England set-up at the conclusion of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations Championship.
A Rugby League legend, Sinfield joined the national set-up with Steve Borthwick following the duo’s time together at Leicester Tigers, where they won a Gallagher Premiership title.
Initially handling England’s defence, Sinfield changed roles when former Ireland international and Springbok assistant coach Felix Jones joined Borthwick’s ahead of the Six Nations.
Reports in the Times have now stated that Sinfield will be remaining in Rugby Union and will be joining Premiership outfit Harlequins as a replacement for former Ireland international Jerry Flannery, who will join the Springboks coaching staff as defence coach.
“Harlequins are interested in speaking to Kevin Sinfield about joining them as a coach when he leaves his England role, as they prepare to lose Jerry Flannery to the Springboks.
“It is understood that Flannery, the 45-year-old former Ireland hooker, is set to leave Quins mid-season and join South Africa — reuniting with the former Munster coach Rassie Erasmus. He has been lined up as the Springboks’ next defence coach, replacing his great friend Felix Jones, who now coaches England, having helped South Africa to win back-to-back World Cups.
“It is believed that Flannery will leave Harlequins in the coming weeks, with his last match likely to be the friendly against Munster on February 23.
“South Africa want Flannery to start soon, alongside their new attack coach, Tony Brown, the New Zealander who has coached Japan, so they can hit the ground running in the summer. The Boks are looking to play a standalone Test against Wales at Twickenham in June and have confirmed home matches against Portugal and Ireland twice in July. The Rugby Championship starts in August.”
Sign In