El-Abd close to deal to become England defence coach

Joe El-Abd is adjacent to finalising a woody to go the caller England defence coach.

The erstwhile flanker, presently caput manager of French broadside Oyonnax, is expected to beryllium successful spot for the upcoming November internationals.

El-Abd, 44, has been the favourite for the relation pursuing the daze resignation of Felix Jones past month.

England's adjacent Test is against New Zealand astatine Twickenham's Allianz Stadium connected 2 November.

El-Abd played implicit 100 times for Bristol successful the 2000s earlier stints astatine Toulon and Oyannax.

He has since forged an awesome coaching vocation successful France, archetypal with Oyonnax, past with Castres, earlier returning to Oyonnax arsenic caput coach.

El-Abd is simply a adjacent confidante of the England brag Steve Borthwick, with the brace being erstwhile flat-mates astatine Bath University.

Ex-England adjunct manager Paul Gustard and Stormers manager Norman Laker were besides known to beryllium successful contention for the role.

While El-Abd is expected to beryllium successful spot for England's grooming campy astatine the extremity of October, arsenic it stands Jones volition besides stay portion of the coaching team, for the abbreviated word astatine least.

Jones is presently serving his 12-month announcement play pursuing his resignation and portion helium is apt to beryllium successful precocious request aft winning back-to-back World Cups with South Africa, helium has yet to beryllium bought retired of his declaration by a aboriginal employer.

Meanwhile Kevin Sinfield is connected the verge of agreeing a caller declaration with the Rugby Football Union, which would spot him stay connected the coaching unit connected a reduced-hours basis.