- England boss Steve Borthwick has named two new coaches for this summer
- Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan will be in charge of attack and defence
- Borthwick’s side face two matches with Argentina and a meeting with USA
England have confirmed two Gallagher Premiership assistant coaches in Lee Blackett and Byron McGuigan will be part of their summer tour matches with Argentina and USA.
While the country’s best players – as well as attack chief Richard Wigglesworth – will be on British & Irish Lions duty – there will be a chance for those not going to Australia to impress in the Americas.
Bath’s Blackett will replace Wigglesworth as the man in charge of attack while McGuigan also joins head coach Steve Borthwick’s national set-up on a temporary basis. He will work alongside Joe El-Abd as defence assistant.
Blackett has helped coach England A this term already and was previously in charge of Wasps.
He has played a key role alongside Bath head of rugby Johann van Graan in taking The Rec outfit to the top of the Premiership this season and the favourites for the title.
Bath attack coach Lee Blackett (pictured) will be a part of England’s summer tour matches
England head coach Steve Borthwick has added Blackett and Sale’s Byron McGuigan
‘Lee and Byron will be excellent additions to our coaching group,’ said Borthwick.
‘England have traditionally travelled to Argentina when the Lions play. It is a summer series that has always provided a fantastic opportunity for Premiership coaches to work in the Test environment.
‘I am delighted we are able to do just that once again. Lee and Byron both have a mindset and approach to their coaching that very much aligns with how we want to continue to play.
‘Lee has a proven track record of developing teams that play smart and effective attacking rugby.
‘Byron brings an energy and strong understanding of the game that underpins an aggressive defence.’
England had a strong Six Nations, winning four of five matches to finish in second place behind France.
Borthwick will want to continue that form against Argentina in Buenos Aires and San Juan on July 5 and July 12 as well as in the meeting with USA in Washington on July 19. Borthwick will also need a new captain too given Maro Itoje is close to a Lions certainty.
For McGuigan, the tour represents a continuation of his remarkable rise. Still just 35, he first joined the Sale coaching team ahead of the 2023/24 season, bringing to an end a playing career that had seen him make more than 100 Sharks appearances and pick up 10 Scotland caps.
England’s summer tour matches with Argentina and USA will take place without their best players (like Maro Itoje pictured) who will be with the British & Irish Lions in Australia
The former wing – known as ‘Horse’ – held several coaching roles at grassroots clubs including Sandbach, Bowden and Rossendale. McGuigan was officially promoted to Sale defence coach at the end of 2024 and since being in the role, Alex Sanderson’s Sharks have impressed.
Their defence particularly stood out in their 25-7 win over Saracens last Friday night, a result which took Sale up to third in the Premiership table. Which England players Borthwick will have to work with against Argentina and USA will become clearer on May 8 when Lions head coach Andy Farrell names his squad for Australia. ‘It’s a huge honour to be asked to join the England coaching team,’ said Blackett. ‘This is a really exciting group of players and I’m looking forward to working with them and the coaching team for what should be a fantastic challenge.’
McGuigan said: ‘It’s a huge honour to be part of the England set-up and I’m excited to contribute to the environment being built within the England squad.’ In addition to Blackett and McGuigan joining the England coaching team, Phil Morrow will up his role as head of team performance on a permanent basis this summer.
