Talks between the RFU and Leicester Tigers over the release of head coach Steve Borthwick to replace Eddie Jones as England boss have reportedly stalled.

According to Sky Sports, the English Premiership club are reportedly seeking £500,000 (R10.6 million) in compensation, while the RFU is understood to only be offering £200,000.

Richard Cockerill has taken over in the interim, but Borthwick has been tipped as the RFU’s preferred choice for the top job. The 57-Test former England lock served as forwards coach to Jones between 2015 and 2020, before leaving to head up Leicester.

Should Borthwick be appointed it would come just nine months out from the Rugby World Cup in France, four years after England finished runners-up to the Springboks in Japan.

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Borthwick, though, has refused to comment on speculation linking him to the England job. He said: “I don’t think anyone can possibly doubt how committed I have been since the minute I walked through this [Leicester] door to give the best I can for this team, and that is my intention again this week to get the performance we want.

“I spoke to Eddie Jones this week and he is a phenomenal coach and I feel very fortunate and privileged top have worked with him in different places for so many years. I have learnt and continue to learn a huge amount from him. Even when not working in the same coaching team at Leicester Tigers he has been incredibly supportive of myself and my coaching journey.

“We would be here all day if we tried to talk about all the things; the work ethic, desire to learn and never cease to want to be better and improve; the desire to help the players achieve their dreams.

“What I will talk about, which I don’t hear talked about , is the generosity of the guy. I have seen him help people around the world. He loves the game and is an incredible coach.”