COLERNE-based Brian Ashton has lost his job as head coach of the England
team.
As widely predicted, Ashton loses his job as part of a shake-up by the RFU
which sees England World Cup-winning captain Martin Johnson become England
team manager.
Ashton, who led England to last year's World Cup final and to the runners-up
place in this season's RBS 6 Nations competition, has been offered the role
of head coach of the National Academy.
In this role, he would be responsible for working across the England Saxons,
under 20 and under 18 programmes to build further on the success of these
sides which have won Grand Slams this season at under 18 and under 20 levels
and the Saxons, who have been unbeaten for nearly two years.
Reporting to Elite Rugby Director Rob Andrew, Johnson will have full
managerial control of the England team, including the appointment of the
coaching and management team as well as the player selection process.
He has confirmed that forwards coach John Wells and defence coach Mike Ford
will remain in their positions as England coaches under the new structure.
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Johnson will be appointing an additional coach in due course.
He takes up his new duties on July 1.
Rob Andrew will fulfil the role of England team manager for the England v
Barbarians match at Twickenham on June 1 and for the two test tour of New
Zealand later that month. The coaching team for the tour will be John Wells,
Mike Ford, Graham Rowntree and Jon Callard.
Andrew said: "I would also like to thank Brian for the job he has done in
difficult circumstances. He is an outstanding coach and deserves enormous
credit for leading England to a second successive Rugby World Cup final last
year and securing the runners-up position in this year's RBS 6 Nations.
"Whilst Brian is naturally disappointed that he will not have a role in the
new senior structure, I believe the new post that we have offered him as
head coach of the National Academy is ideally suited to his special talents
and expertise."
RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: "I am also personally pleased that
Brian has been offered a senior post within the RFU which I very much hope
he accepts. He still has much to offer England Rugby."
Martyn Thomas, chairman of the RFU management board, said: "The Board were
unanimous in their support of the recommendations placed before us by Rob
Andrew.
They were also fulsome in their thanks and praise for Brian for the work he
has done for England Rugby in difficult circumstances and in their desire
for Brian to play a new role going forward as head coach of the National
Academy."
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