England extend Eddie Jones as coach until 2021

England handed Eddie Jones a two-year contract extension as coach on Wednesday (Thursday NZ Time) while also outlining a strategy for his exit in advance of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

After guiding England to 22 wins in his 23 tests in charge, the Australian was rewarded for transforming the fortunes of the national team by getting a new deal through 2021.

As part of the deal, the English Rugby Football Union has planned a succession process that will likely see a new coach appointed by the end of the 2019-20 season, to work alongside Jones until the summer of 2021. The new coach would then lead England into the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

The RFU said this "robust succession planning process" was in place in an effort to avoid "the historically disruptive pattern of resetting the coaching team and performance system every four years."

"Eddie will be a big part of this process," RFU chief executive Steve Brown said, "and wants to ensure a smooth handover to his successor."

It suggests England may look to emulate the coaching strategy employed by New Zealand and promote from within, potentially through Jones' assistant coaches, Steve Borthwick or Paul Gustard.

Until then, Jones is set to become the longest-serving England coach since Clive Woodward, who led the country in its RWC success in 2003. Under Jones, England has risen to No 2 in the world rankings and is a legitimate challenger to the top-ranked All Blacks.

"I have been completely focused on developing a team capable of being the No 1 rugby team in the world and winning the World Cup in 2019," Jones said. "I never take my role as England head coach for granted and did not presume I would be asked to stay on, but, once the conversations started very recently, it was not a difficult decision to make."

Jones' new contract has a performance-based break clause based on England's showing at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The Australian took charge weeks after the 2015 RWC.

"He has a 95 per cent win rate at the helm," Brown said, "and has been a galvanising force for the RFU, bringing focus, clarity and extraordinary commitment to the role."