The RFU is planning on offering England head coach Steve Borthwick and his backroom staff new contracts through to 2028.
Borthwick's deal is due to expire after next year's Rugby World Cup, but the RFU is moving to pre-emptively calm any speculation over their post-tournament plans with the coaching staff by bumping Borthwick's contract an extra four months through to after the 2028 Six Nations.
The deal is both a show of faith in Borthwick, but also a decision which gives the RFU wriggle room.
If England perform poorly at the World Cup, then the new deal gives them time to weigh up future options and contingency plans with the Six Nations starting just three months after the end of the tournament.
The RFU did the same with Red Roses coach John Mitchell's contract ahead of the 2025 World Cup, a competition they went on to win. It is a different approach though to the IRFU who have already handed Andy Farrell a new contract through to 2031.
"You don't want them looking for a job going into [a World Cup]," O'Shea told the BBC Rugby Union Weekly podcast.
"Everyone knows it will be judged on the World Cup, but you can't have a group of coaches going in with that uncertainty, especially when you look at the timing. So we will give that certainty, and that will give us time to look properly."
The news comes after a summer where England lost to South Africa, but beat Fiji and Argentina.
Those results gave Borthwick some breathing room after a dismal Six Nations where England lost to Italy for the first time and won just one of their five matches.
- Maro Itoje: England break was surprising but helpful
Borthwick's England have four matches this autumn: they host Australia, Japan and New Zealand and then have a further Nations Championship match depending on where they finish in the table.
Then comes the 2027 Six Nations. where one eye will be firmly on the World Cup later next year.
"I see in Steve someone who bleeds England, and wants England to succeed more than anything you can imagine," O'Shea said. "This England team is unequivocally one of probably five teams who can win the World Cup next year. I believe this team can win a World Cup.
"Is the talent there? 100%. If over this next 12 months this England team shows the best version of itself, I know it can beat anyone in the world."
