Warren Gatland's prospects of replacing Eddie Jones as England coach could be closed off with reports the outspoken Australian may remain in the Twickenham hot seat through to the 2023 World Cup.
Outgoing Wales boss Gatland was highly fancied to replace his England rival in late 2021, particularly as interim RFU chief executive Nigel Melville handed the triple Grand Slam winner his first coaching break in Britain with Wasps in 2002.
There were even suggestions of Gatland and Jones working together with England in a succession period while the New Zealander prepared and took charge of the Lions' 2021 tour to South Africa.
It's claimed Jones has a clause in his contract which states he can be removed if England fail to reach the semi-finals of the Rugby World Cup in Japan, this autumn.
Jones was expected to quit anyway when his contract is up in the summer of 2021, but the Daily Mail report he may now stay on through to the 2023 World Cup, in France, if that spot in the last four is achieved.
The newspaper add Jones extending his RFU contract for two more years comes with some caveats which new chief executive - former British Olympic Association boss Bill Sweeney - would have to address.
The punishing Premiership workload is said to be one of them with the England coaching team wanting bigger rest periods for their star players.
The Gallagher Premiership final takes place at Twickenham on Saturday with a host of Jones' England players taking part when Saracens play Exeter Chiefs.
The following day HQ will stage a non-capped international when an England XV take on a star-studded Barbarians squad.
Jones is not involved in that game with the job of preparing a unfamiliar looking England squad falling to former Northampton coach Jim Mallinder.
He could well have been a candidate top replace Jones while another, according to the Mail, was the RFU’s director of international player development Dean Ryan before he quit his job for a new life at Rodney Parade as the new director of the Dragons.
