Joe El-Abd Appointed England Defence Coach

Joe El-Abd has been appointed as England's new defence coach, replacing Felix Jones who resigned unexpectedly in August. El-Abd, 44, will juggle his role with his current position as rugby director at Oyonnax until the end of the season, after which he will commit full-time to England. Head coach Steve Borthwick praised El-Abd's expertise, passion, and proven track record in developing high-performing teams. El-Abd, who has extensive coaching experience in France and played in the English and French leagues, expressed excitement about contributing to England's defensive strategies. He will join the England setup in time for the autumn internationals against New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, and Japan. The appointment comes amid a period of significant changes within the England coaching team, including the departure of head of strength and conditioning, Aled Walters.