England Rugby Confirms Lancaster as Head Coach Through 2016

England rugby’s interim manager Stuart Lancaster was given the full-time job today by the country’s board to lead the squad through the next World Cup.

Lancaster was ratified unamiously in a vote this morning by the Rugby Football Union’s board and will be given a contract through 2016, the RFU said today in an e-mailed statement.

“Stuart is the right person to lead England Rugby forward into the 2015 Rugby World Cup,” Chief Executive Ian Ritchie said in the statement. “He has shown throughout the RBS 6 Nations and subsequently in both interview and other conversations I, as chairman of the advisory panel, have had with him that he has the skills and vision needed in the England Head Coach.”

The 42-year-old, who took over for the Six Nations after Martin Johnson quit Nov. 16 following the World Cup in New Zealand, guided England to second place in the championship behind Grand Slam winner Wales. England won three away matches in the tournament for the first time.

England will play 37 matches before the next World Cup, which it will host.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Christopher Elser at celser@bloomberg.net