Simon Amor, the highly respected England Sevens coach, is expected to be appointed as the new attack coach in Eddie Jones’s backroom team for the start of the Six Nations Championship.

It is understood that Amor is to replace Scott Wisemantel, who has been confirmed as the new attack coach for Australia.​

Matt Proudfoot, the scrum coach for South Africa when they won the World Cup in November, is also expected to be appointed to Jones’s backroom, as the successor to Neal Hatley, who left the Rugby Football Union following the tournament in Japan to join Bath.​

The appointment of Amor and Proudfoot would complete Jones’s coaching team ahead of the Six Nations. John Mitchell, the defence coach, is contracted, like Jones, until 2021, while Steve Borthwick, the forwards coach, is expected to be still involved during the Six Nations despite a mooted move to Leicester Tigers at some stage this season.​

The news comes as Rob Baxter, Exeter’s director of rugby, ruled himself out of the running to succeed Jones as England head coach in 2021 after agreeing a contract extension with the Chiefs that takes him through to 2023.​

Jones has indicated that he will leave all options open after seeing his England deal through to 2021.​ The RFU, which is aware of the need to nurture English coaches, also needs to come up with a succession plan were Jones not to renew further, one that could go through to the next World Cup in France in 2023.​ When Jones was appointed in 2016, the RFU said that part of his remit was to bring through an English successor to take over from him once he stepped down. The RFU, however, extended his contract to 2021 in order that he could be considered for the Lions coaching job for the tour of South Africa, only for Warren Gatland to be reappointed to the position.​