England head coach Steve Borthwick is reported to have asked the RFU to approach Bath Rugby to acquire the services of attack and backs coach Lee Blackett with the 2025/26 club season just weeks away.
Blackett has been at Bath Rugby for the last two seasons having previously been head coach at Wasps Rugby before the club went into administration. His attacking game plan, executed by club captain Ben Spencer at scrum-half and Finn Russell at fly-half has seen the Blue, Black and White reach the last two Gallagher PREM finals, finishing the 2024/25 season as winners and top try scorers in the competition to complete a hat-trick of trophy wins.
Blackett, 42, signed a contract extension with Bath back in January 2025, along with defence coach JP Ferreira and forwards coach Richard Blaze with head of rugby Johann van Graan outlining the important of consistency at the club, but Telegraph Sport report that Borthwick is keen to bring him into the national set-up to run the attack with the recently promoted Richard Wigglesworth moving to oversee the defence in a bid to continue his coaching development. England’s defence is currently coached by Joe El-Abd.
In the last year, Blackett has added to his already impressive coaching CV by working with England A and the England senior team this summer with Wigglesworth away on the British and Irish Lions tour to Australia.
In July, England beat Argentina twice on their home soil before putting the USA to the sword in Washington DC, with Blackett earning the admiration of Borthwick while working together closely during the summer tour.
Speaking to The Telegraph this summer, Blackett, who still commutes down to Farleigh house from the Midlands each day, said: “I don’t think I’ve ever hidden the fact that one day I would love to do it [coach international rugby]. How could you not have enjoyed what went on last year with Bath? But, definitely, one day down the line, when that is, time will tell. You’re just looking to get that opportunity. Working as a head or in the international game is somewhere I would like my next jobs to be. But, I’ve been really enjoying my attack-coach role.”
There is currently no suggestion who could fill the void left by Blackett at Bath should he be allowed to depart, although summer signing Chris Harris is known to be keen on transitioning into coaching as he approaches the tail end of his playing career.
Scotland and Lions star Russell is also widely credited with his ability to lead a side’s attack should van Graan opt to go without a specialist attack coach in the short-term.
