THE coaches of Oxfordshire’s leading teams say Stuart Lancester should continue in the England job.

Lancester’s future, after his successful spell as interim coach in the RBS Six Nations, is the big debate in English rugby right now.

And having been asked by the Oxford Mail, coaches at the county’s top clubs said they were right behind him.

Oxford Harlequins backs coach Tony Edney said: “He should definitely get the job. He has brought the team together.

“They play as a unit and are playing for the shirt.

“He has been really impressive and the team seem to be improving game by game.

“He was a bit of an unknown quantity, but he has done really well.”

Alchester head coach Chris Kimber has been similarly impressed by Lancaster.

“I think he deserves a longer run,” said Kimber.

“He seems to have a good back-room staff together as well, which is important.

“If you keep changing the coach, it doesn’t really work.”

Wallingford coach Stuart Mount said: “He has produced results in four of the five matches and was unlucky in one of them.

“I am not a great believer in bringing in some big name from the outside.

“Lancaster has come through the RFU ranks rather than geting a big money job with a Premiership club.

“I think he would be a good choice.”

Grove head coach Craig Burrows joked: “As a Welshman, I think they should bring back Johnson!”

But he added: “I think the RFU will be very short-sighted to go with anyone apart from Stuart Lancaster. He has done a fantastic job to get second place in the Six Nations.

“He put a lot of new players in and they wanted to play for him.

“He has done wonders with them, so I think he should be given the job full-time and get the chance to build on it.”

Witney head coach Phil Harper was slightly more circumspect, but still praised Lancaster.

He said: “I would like to have a proper process with interviews and where everybody is considered.

“I think Stuart Lancaster has done very well, but there are other coaches that have to be considered.

“It shouldn’t be an automatic bolt-on.

“He is not that experienced at the top level, although he has done very well.”

Former Oxford University captain and South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett is thought to be the other front-runner for the full-time England job.

RFU chief Ian Ritchie is expected to make a decision next week.