It would be an honour to keep England captaincy, says Chris Robshaw

Dejected: England captain Robshaw during England's failed World Cup campaign
David Rogers/Getty Images
Chris Jones24 December 2015

Chris Robshaw is adamant he still wants to captain England under new head coach Eddie Jones, despite the flak he took for his part in the failed World Cup campaign.

The Harlequins flanker has met Jones amid intense speculation about the captaincy with Northampton’s Dylan Hartley favourite to lead England in their Six Nations opener against Scotland on February 6.

Having returned from a holiday in Rio — where he kept his phone turned off — Robshaw said: “I had a chat with Eddie but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I would be hugely honoured to be captain but I would respect his decision and support whoever is chosen. My priority is to be in the team in the Six Nations as captain, a player, a six, seven, eight or prop. I will do whatever is best for the team.

“Of course, you want to prove people wrong and there have been a lot of questions asked and you need to answer them by playing well. Whenever you take on a role you know the good and bad sides of it and there is no hiding the fact it hurts at times. But it makes your shoulders broader and you take it with a pinch of salt and learn to deal with it.”

Jones was appointed after Stuart Lancaster paid the price for England’s pool stage exit.

Robshaw said: “I am sure Eddie will adjust a few things but there will be a bright future for English rugby. You cannot discredit the work Stuart and the coaches did just because we didn’t perform in the World Cup. People have to remember how Stuart transformed the England team.”

The decision by Quins director of rugby Conor O’Shea to give Robshaw a break means the forward is raring to get stuck into Gloucester in Big Game8 at Twickenham on Sunday.

Robshaw added: “Conor has taken good care of me and I feel in a very good place. My body feels great and mentally I am back to the place I want to be.”

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