Thomas Named in England A Coaching Team for Ireland A Clash

Chiefs coach Haydn Thomas has been named Defence Coach for England A in their Ireland A fixture.

Bath Rugby attack coach, Lee Blackett, will lead the England A squad later this month as the team’s head coach and attack coach.

The England A side face Ireland A at Bristol’s Ashton Gate Stadium on Sunday 23rd February (13:00 GMT kick-off) in the second of two fixtures for the team this season. 

England A claimed a 38-17 win over Australia A at Twickenham Stoop in November.

Blackett played a crucial role as the team’s attack coach for their fixture against Australia A earlier in the season and had previous coaching stints at Rotherham Titans, Wasps and Scarlets before joining the Somerset side in 2023.

Blackett will be accompanied by Exeter Chiefs’ senior coach, Haydn Thomas, as the team’s defence coach who fulfilled this same role for the team in their earlier victory this season. Thomas has previously served as the England U20 Men’s defensive coordinator.

Red Roses forwards coach, Louis Deacon, joins the coaching staff as the team’s designated forwards coach. The former England and Leicester Tigers lock-turned-coach joined England Women as forwards coach in August 2021 and became interim head coach following the departure of Simon Middleton in 2023. Before this he had coaching roles at Coventry RFC, England U20 Men, the Spanish national team and in the Leicester Tiger community department.

Matt Ferguson, assistant coach at Northampton Saints, will serve as the England A team’s scrum coach. Ferguson has been assistant coach for Northampton Saints since 2018, where his focus is on Saints’ scrum. Before this he spent three years in charge of England Women’s forwards unit.

The coaching team was chosen by the RFU in consultation with Premiership Rugby, with the selection of the match day 23 determined by senior men’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, and RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby, Conor O’Shea.

The England A side provides a platform for players transitioning from the Gallagher Premiership and pathway at U20 level to the senior men’s team.

Conor O’Shea said: “We are excited to see Lee and Haydn continue their work with this team and provide continuity off the back of a fantastic win against Australia A in November.

“It’s brilliant to have Louis joining this outstanding coaching team, helping us to continue to align our women’s and men’s teams together with Matt Ferguson as scrum coach from Northampton Saints. The A team is and always will be a great development opportunity for coaches and players alike and it’s great to see Lee stepping up to head coach for this fixture, while Mark Mapletoft is with the U20 Men for the Six Nations.

“The England A games offer a platform for emerging players in the English game and show a commitment to an ambitious, unified and winning England, as we look to inspire the next generation of England Rugby supporters. I would like to thank the clubs for their continued collaboration and the coaches for the giving up their time to take this opportunity with the England A team.”

England Men A coaching staff for Ireland A fixture:

Lee Blackett – Head Coach and Attack Coach

Haydn Thomas - Defence Coach

Louis Deacon – Forwards Coach

Matt Ferguson – Scrum Coach