The RFU have confirmed that England Women head coach Simon Middleton will step down following 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.
The announcement comes just five months after a 14-woman England team – hot favourites for the tournament – lost the Rugby World Cup final to New Zealand in Auckland.
A statement reads: “The Rugby Football Union (RFU) can confirm England Women head coach Simon Middleton has decided he will step down from his role after the conclusion of the 2023 TikTok Women’s Six Nations.”
The 57-year-old guided England to their record-breaking 30 match-winning run and two Rugby World Cup finals in 2017 and 2022.
Middleton said: “Representing England in a coaching or playing capacity must be the pinnacle of any sporting career, and I can’t put into words how proud and fortunate I’ve been to be able to do this for the last nine years.”
In addition to serving as assistant coach for England at the 2014 Rugby World Cup in France, where they won the tournament, Middleton joined the RFU in 2014 and oversaw the England Women Sevens team on the World Series.
He first served as the Red Roses’ head coach in 2015 in a dual capacity with sevens.
“Outside of my family, rugby has been my life, giving me purpose, direction, great memories, and even greater friends. Growing up as a lad from Knottingley in Yorkshire I was inspired by the likes of Sir Bill Beaumont, Will Carling and the great England sides of the 70s, 80s and 90s, so to find myself so heavily involved with England in the game I love was a dream come true.
“This job has created a life I’d only ever dreamt of. Hopefully, what we have managed to achieve reflects well. It means the world to me to represent my country and the RFU. With whatever I do, I always work as hard as I can and I can honestly say I’ve never done anything without giving my best, it’s not always been good enough but I have always given my all.”