Left-field contender emerges to replace Eddie Jones as England coach

Many in the game would love to see him involved with the senior England squad.

Ben Ryan had twice previously been a guest on of JOE UK's House of Rugby, offering a brilliant insight into his coaching stint with the Fiji Sevens team that ended with gold medal glory at the Rio Olympics. On the latest episode, host Alex Payne and England flanker James Haskell welcomed Ryan back to the studio for another fascinating chat. Ryan, who has experience of coaching XVs rugby, was England Sevens head coach before he led the Fijians to tournament win after tournament win. With current England coach Eddie Jones set to step down in 2021, but help bed in his successor for 12 months from June 2020, Ryan was asked if he would have any interest in the position.

"With all the stuff I went through at the RFU, it would take a lot to get me back working with the RFU. A lot of those people aren't there any more, which helps. "I was talking to my agent today about stuff," he continued, "and I was saying I was keen to get back into full-time rugby. Not now, though. I'm happy with all the stuff I'm doing and I want to get the rest of my life all sorted, and then take on a good challenge. "But the role doesn't really exist [with England] at what I'd like to do - that GM [General Manager] type, performance director role."

One contention of Ryan's that would go down well with many fans of the national side is that Gloucester outhalf Danny Cipriani should be involved in the senior squad. [caption id="attachment_225241" align="aligncenter" width="800"] (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)[/caption] "You just need that sleight of hand and guile and something different," said Ryan. "I've been on record saying that Cips should be involved in the [England] set-up. "Like, you don't see anything too different any more. You're not looking at the game and going, 'This team is doing things completely differently or looking to break down defences other than just keeping ball'." Given his successes in the Sevens sphere, Ryan would definitely be worth getting in for a chat about the England team and how they could push on in the world game. Episode 24 sees Alex Payne joined by James Haskell and Sevens rugby guru Ben Ryan to discuss breakdown carnage, troubled futures for skilful players and possible rule changes.