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Richard Cockerill has emerged as a contender to succeed Eddie Jones as England’s head coach.

The fiery former Leicester and England hooker, 47, is currently in charge of Edinburgh in the Pro14 after being binned by Leicester in January last year.

The RFU’s master-plan is to have someone in place to work with Jones from after next year’s World Cup until the Australian’s contract is up in summer 2021.

Exeter’s Rob Baxter and Saracens Mark McCall distanced themselves from the position last week and Twickenham chiefs are keen to have a tracksuit coach who doesn’t get bogged down in admin.

Acting CEO Nigel Melville said: “Cockerill has done an amazing job in Edinburgh. Did you think he’d do a really job up there? I questioned whether he would, but actually he’s done a really good job.

(Image: AFP/Getty)

“Eddie is a coach, an out-and out-coach, [Wales boss] Warren Gatland is a coach. All these super-coaches — all they are interested in is coaching. We give them director of rugby jobs and they turn into administrators.

“New Zealand have had coaches, Australia have always had coaches. The head coach has to be in charge, they want to be in charge. The top coaches in the world want to report to the CEO and they want to be in charge, that is the animal they are.”

Melville is in temporary charge at Twickenham after the resignation of Steve Brown and is leading the recruitment process.

It is understood he is keen to take the top job permanently.