Schmidt and Gatland may replace Jones

Warren Gatland and Joe Schmidt are in the frame to succeed Eddie Jones as England head coach.

The Rugby Football Union has confirmed it has begun a recruitment process to identify potential candidates, ensuring there is a proper succession plan for when Jones steps down.

The Australian signed a two-year extension in January to stay in the role until 2021 but his contract will be terminated if England do not meet the RFU’s performance target at next year’s World Cup in Japan.

The RFU is determined to have a plan in place for either scenario and, significantly, Steve Brown, the governing body’s chief executive, said that the head coaches of rival home unions were ‘‘not off limits’’.

Top of the RFU’s criteria are head coaches with proven success on the international stage and Gatland and Schmidt, whose contracts expire after the World Cup, would be considered strong contenders for the position.

Schmidt coached Ireland to the Grand Slam this season while Gatland masterminded the British and Irish Lions’ drawn series against the All Blacks last year and he has coached Wales to three Six Nations titles, including two Grand Slams.

Asked if there was a gentlemen’s agreement in place to not go after rival home union coaches, Brown said: ‘‘No, that doesn’t exist.

‘‘Half the tier-one coaches changed at the last World Cup and most of them were northern hemisphere, so they are going to go in different directions.

‘‘It’s pretty competitive, so no one’s off limits.

‘‘It’s all to do with whether they fit the profile and the criteria that we’re looking for.

‘‘Whilst we would love to have an English head coach eventually, our priority is still to get the best coach for England.’’