Lancaster lands England job

Lancaster’s permanent appointment follows a successful reign as interim head coach, during which he led England to second place in the RBS 6 Nations and rebuilt the reputation of the national team.

Lancaster saw off competition from former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett to be proposed for the job by Ian Ritchie, the RFU’s new chief executive who oversaw the recruitment process.

Ritchie was assisted by an advisory panel comprising Conor O’Shea and Ian McGeechan - the Harlequins and Bath directors of rugby respectively - the RFU’s professional rugby director Rob Andrew and former England flanker Richard Hill.

Lancaster’s appointment was ratified by the RFU board in a conference call last night. He will now lead England to the World Cup in 2015.

There was no word on whether Andy Farrell, who was part of Lancaster’s interim management team during the Six Nations, will be joining the full-time coaching team.

Farrell remains under contract at Saracens, who said yesterday there had been no official approach from the RFU.

Lancaster, a former Leeds director of rugby, was in charge of the England Saxons and elite player development at the RFU when he took over the national team after Martin Johnson stood down.

England had crashed out of the World Cup in the quarter-finals and the subsequent leaked reports indicated a squad riven by distrust and competing agendas.

Lancaster rebuilt the England team and they won four of their five matches in the Six Nations, including a victory over World Cup finalists France in Paris and a 30-9 thumping of Ireland at Twickenham.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie said: “We have been through a rigorous and global selection process and are confident that Stuart is the right person to lead England Rugby forward into the 2015 Rugby World Cup. He has shown throughout the RBS 6 Nations and subsequently in both interview and other conversations I, as chairman of the advisory panel, have had with him that he has the skills and vision needed in the England head coach.

“I would also like to thank the advisory panel for their time and invaluable advice during the course of the process. I have been very lucky to be able to draw upon great rugby expertise and for that I am grateful.

“I am sure everyone in England will join me in congratulating Stuart on his appointment. He can be assured of my support and everyone in the union as he embarks on what we all hope will be a successful period for English rugby.”

Lancaster, the 42-year-old Cumbrian said: “I am immensely honoured and proud to accept this role. From the hundreds of messages I received during the Six Nations I know what supporting England means to millions of people and I am privileged to be involved.

“The players, coaches and the management were superb during the tournament and it’s down to them that we made such positive steps from when we first met up in Leeds. The challenge now is to take this squad and the players we will see emerge forward to 2015.

“It is one that I can’t wait to get stuck into.

“We have a massive task ahead of us in South Africa this summer and we have 37 games before that first World Cup match on home soil, so every second counts in developing players who can win that tournament - which has to be the ultimate aim.

“I want to thank Ian and the panel for giving me the chance to explain my vision for England Rugby and, with their backing, I feel very positive about the future.”