Lee Blackett has revealed that the chance to coach England’s attack was an opportunity he simply couldn’t refuse, even though he had recently signed a long-term contract with Bath Rugby earlier this year.
Currently still with Bath, Blackett will complete two more fixtures: the Premiership Rugby Cup clash at home against Exeter Chiefs this weekend, followed by the Gallagher Premiership opener away at Harlequins. After that, he will fully commit to his new role with England, having already joined the national squad for a recent three-day training camp.
Blackett’s involvement with England coaching dates back to the undefeated summer tour of Argentina and the USA this year. He also coached England ‘A’ in matches against Australia ‘A’ and Ireland ‘A’ in late 2024 and early 2025. Now, he is set to take over as England’s senior attack coach ahead of the 2025 Quilter Nations Series, succeeding Richard Wigglesworth, who will transition to focusing on defence after his role with the British and Irish Lions.
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Speaking on the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast, Blackett said: “We went away in the summer and I loved every second of it. I remember coming back thinking, right, I really need to focus on going back into the Premiership because I’ve got that international bug. Two weeks later, Bath reached out for us to have conversations, and over the following weeks I stayed fully committed to Bath knowing England might be an option.”
Though departing from Bath, the reigning Premiership champions, was a difficult decision, Blackett reflected fondly on his time there — especially the unforgettable moment when the final whistle blew at Twickenham last June, crowning their championship. He was always open with Bath’s head of rugby, Johann van Graan, about his ambitions.
Blackett added: “I’ve always been honest with Johan from day one. I said my dream next job was at the international level. Getting to do it halfway through a World Cup cycle, and with my own country, almost feels like cheating. It was something I just couldn’t say no to.”
After a phenomenal season in which Bath secured three major trophies—the Gallagher Premiership, the EPCR Challenge Cup, and the Premiership Rugby Cup—the club’s future looks promising. Blackett acknowledged the strength of the Bath squad and expressed how hard it is to leave behind such a talented group and the close relationships built.
He reflected, “It’s tough because the Bath squad looks even stronger on paper this year and was already so strong last year. It’s an unbelievable group of players and staff. Good players make coaches look good, and Bath has loads of good players. The hardest part is leaving the relationships you’ve built.”
Van Graan paid tribute to Blackett’s contribution: “Lee has been an essential part of our journey since he arrived at Bath. We’ve created amazing memories together. On behalf of everyone in the Blue, Black, and White family, we wish Lee all the best as he steps into coaching at the international level.”