Ex-England flyhalf Rob Andrew was the major casualty of a shake-up of English rugby's management structure announced on Thursday.
Andrew's position as Director of Elite Rugby is being abolished in a move that could, perhaps, see former England coach Sir Clive Woodward return in a new role with the governing Rugby Football Union (RFU).
England team manager Martin Johnson, captain of the side that won the 2003 Rugby World Cup under Woodward, remains in charge but he is set to have a new boss with the likes of Australia's Eddie Jones and South Africa's Jake White also in the running for the new post of Performance Director.
However, the RFU said it had invited Andrew to apply for the new post of Rugby Operations Director.
It added that Andrew, previously the coach of Premiership club Newcastle, would stay in his current job for the "six to nine months" it would take to complete the revamp of the RFU.
Under the new set-up, a single rugby department has been created, divided into areas of performance, operations and development.
The changes were made following a review conducted by new RFU Chief Executive John Steele, who wants to ensure the team and the governing body are both best-placed to take advantage of England staging the 2015 World Cup.
"We have invited Rob to apply for the Rugby Operations Director role which is a game wide role responsible for creating the rugby infrastructure required to make rugby work across England," said Steele on Thursday.
"However, it is important to note that the development of this new structure will take six to nine months to put in place and in the interim those applying for roles will stay in their current position while the recruitment process happens and the transitions take place.
"This means that Rob Andrew will continue with his current responsibilities until the process is complete."
Steele added: "Today's announcement is all about looking forward not back and ensuring that we have the best people in place to serve and lead rugby in England as we prepare for a home World Cup in 2015.
"In view of this we are placing huge emphasis on developing the leadership and vision for the new rugby department. The three senior appointments in the rugby area are hugely important to the future of the game."
Andrew, 47, joined the RFU in 2006, seeing off competition from former coach Woodward - not everyone's favourite at the RFU and currently the British Olympic Association's Elite Performance Director.
But Andrew's time with the RFU has been marked by a largely unsuccessful period for the England team, an appearance in the 2007 World Cup Final apart.
Andrew, in a statement from the RFU on Thursday, said: "I am very excited about the future of the game in England, and the re-structuring that will place rugby at the heart of everything the RFU does.
"Change is never easy but there are some exciting opportunities and challenges ahead," he added.
"I will be considering the role of Rugby Operations Director in the coming weeks and in the meantime will continue with my responsibilities as Elite Rugby Director."
AFP
No comments:
Post a Comment