Northampton Saints will be represented within the England A coaching set-up once again, as James Craig is set to link up with the RFU for the side’s upcoming fixtures next month.
England A re-group for the first time this season in November to face All Blacks XV and Spain, and today announce their coaching set-up – led by head coach Mark Mapletoft.
Mapletoft will be assisted by Gloucester’s James Lightfoot Brown to lead England’s attack, defence coach Adam Powell from Saracens, Harlequins’ Matt Ferguson who is in charge of the scrum for the All Blacks clash, Nathan Catt who takes over the scrum against Spain, and Saints’ Craig – who will serve as England A forwards coach for both matches.
England will hope to continue their unbeaten run that stretches back to 2023 when they take to the Recreation Ground (Saturday 8 November) and the Estadio Jose Zorrilla in Valladolid (Saturday 15 November).
Craig, a two-time league winner with Saints as a player and coach, will join up with the group while Saints feature within the PREM Rugby Cup – with the squad for the two-match block to be confirmed later this month.
On naming his coaching group, head coach Mapletoft said: “It’s a great honour to be accompanied by some of the most exciting coaching talent in the Gallagher PREM ahead of our opening games of the 2025/26 season.
“Following extensive consultation with Steve [Borthwick] and Conor [O’Shea] alongside PREM Rugby, we believe we have assembled a team that will drive forward the A side into a new campaign with fresh ideas against testing opposition.
“We want to continue to provide a platform for young players to grow the rose and measure themselves against international-calibre sides, bridging the gap into the senior environment.”
England Men’s A coaching staff for All Blacks XV fixture
- Head Coach – Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
- Attack Coach - James Lightfoot Brown (Gloucester Rugby)
- Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
- Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
- Scrum Coach - Matt Ferguson (Harlequins)
England Men’s A coaching staff for Spain fixture
- Head Coach and Attack Coach - Mark Mapletoft (England Rugby)
- Defence Coach - Adam Powell (Saracens)
- Forwards Coach - James Craig (Northampton Saints)
- Scrum Coach – Nathan Catt (England Rugby)
Tickets for England A vs All Blacks XV at the Recreation Ground in Bath are available from £25 for adults and £15 for under-16s* and can be purchased HERE.
*booking fees apply
