English coach Stuart Lancaster will now be able to remove less than flattering terms such as ‘caretaker’ and ‘interim’ from his title, with the 42-year-old appointed permanent head coach by the Rugby Football Union board.

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The board and RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie unanimously ratified the appointment of the Cumbrian, who guided England to a second placed finish in the 2012 Six Nations.
He led his young team to three away victories over Scotland, Italy and France, while at Twickenham they conquered Ireland and gave Wales a fright.

It was a suitable exorcism of the memories of England’s failed 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.

Ritchie said that not only had Lancaster’s deeds during the recently completed tournament all but confirmed his new role, but the former Wimbledon chief had made it clear in the past that he needed to have a “strong” relationship with the new England coach.

“We have been through a rigorous and global selection process and are confident that Stuart is the right person to lead England forward into the 2015 World Cup,” Ritchie said.

“He has shown throughout the Six 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 beats off the challenge of main rival Nick Mallet, who admitted after the Six Nations that he would be very surprised if the former Leeds’ stalwart wasn’t given the post.

The former Leeds centurion, local academy manager, Leeds Director of Rugby, RFU Head of Elite Player Development and Saxons coach was thrilled to get the nod.

“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 year 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.”

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Chris Robshaw has welcomed the appointment of Stuart Lancaster after the interim Head Coach’s tenure was made permanent until January 2016 today.

The Harlequins skipper was chosen by Lancaster to lead England for the RBS 6 Nations and was ever present as England recorded four wins from five – including a historic three away from home – for second place in the Championship.

Robshaw pointed to the respect and trust Lancaster quickly established with the squad as a key factor in their success, with the players responding on the pitch.

Speaking on behalf of England Senior Elite Player Squad, the 25-year-old said: “I would like to congratulate Stuart on his appointment not just on my behalf but also on behalf of all the players that worked with him in England’s Six Nations squad.

“In all his dealings with that squad during the Six Nations Stuart displayed a real empathy with the players, earning their respect and trust, and a vision for how he wanted England to play.  The players responded to him and the results are there for all to see.”

Robshaw, who regularly topped England’s tackling and carrying stats during the tournament, added that he is indebted to Lancaster for giving him the honour of leading his country.

He said: “I was privileged to be asked by him to captain the team in the Championship and look forward to working with him in the future if I am selected.”

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Former Springbok coach Nick Mallett has congratulated new England coach Stuart Lancaster on his new appointment and adding that he “gave it his best shot”.

Mallett was the early favourite to replace Martin Johnson but withdrew from the running initially by saying that he would not coach England through this year’s Six nations.

Stuart Lancaster was then appointed in December to lead England through the Six Nations this year and did the job so well that he beat Mallett to the job.

“I would like to congratulate Stuart Lancaster on his appointment as England Rugby Head Coach,” said Mallett in a statement.

“I am sure he will continue to build on the good work he has done with the team in the aftermath of a difficult World Cup for them.

“Having presented to an RFU panel and had personal meetings with RFU Chief Executive Ian Ritchie in England last week, I believe the process was conducted in the most professional manner. ”

“I gave it my best shot and was glad to be able to discuss my feelings and philosophy on how I’d have coached the team.”

“With the speculation around the England Head Coach position now out of the way, I am looking forward to sitting down at looking at other opportunities in the world of rugby with my representative”, Craig Livingstone, at Prosport International.

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Edinburgh – Scotland coach Andy Robinson is to continue in the job despite a disastrous Six Nations campaign which ended in a humiliating whitewash, it was confirmed Thursday.

The Scottish Rugby Union said in a statement that former England coach Robinson, who is under contract until the 2015 World Cup, had decided to stay on after considering his future following the Six Nations.

“(SRU chief executive) Mark Dodson and Andy Robinson met today for discussions following the RBS 6 Nations,” the SRU said in a statement.

“The discussions were positive and concluded that Andy will continue to lead the Scotland national team with the support of his revised coaching structure.”

Robinson had called on Scotland to shed their tags as the perennial under-achievers of British rugby before the Six Nations, urging his team to show a more clinical streak.

Yet despite dominating England in their opening match at Murrayfield, Robinson’s side slumped to defeat before losing to Wales, France and Ireland.

The nadir came in the final match of the tournament when Robinson’s men were relegated to the wooden spoon following a loss to Italy in Rome.