John Mitchell is reportedly poised to be announced as the new head coach of the England women's rugby team.
According to UK's The Times, the former All Blacks coach will this week be unveiled by the Rugby Football Union as the successor to Simon Middleton, who stepped down after leading the team to their fifth straight Six Nations title last weekend.
He also led England to two World Cup finals. Both were lost to the Black Ferns, most recently at last year's showpiece at Auckland's Eden Park, when the hosts snapped the Red Roses' 30-game win streak.
Former Waikato No. 8 Mitchell spent two years as coach of the All Blacks, guiding them to a third-place finish at the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Mitchell has spent two prior stints with England as the forwards coach for the men's team under Sir Clive Woodward in 2017. Between 2018 and 2021, he was the defence coach under Eddie Jones.
He left his most recent assistant role with England just two months after signing a contract extension, citing a desire to return to club rugby.
He's currently the defence coach of the Japan team, meaning he'll likely take the helm with the England women's side after the upcoming World Cup in France, which starts in September.
There was widespread expectation that a woman might take up the role with the Red Roses, with a few outstanding candidates in the running. Mitchell has never coached women's rugby.
Last month, NZ Rugby announced a trio of new assistants to join incoming head coach Allan Bunting to form an all-male coaching set-up.
Mitchell has yet to determine his assistant coaching set-up, which is expected to be announced later this week.
