Rob Andrew on his way out?

[Teh Mite]

We can hope...
Steele set to announce radical RFU overhaul


<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>

Steele has looked at all areas of the RFU in his review

</td></tr> </tbody></table> Rugby Football Union chief executive John Steele is expected to recommend significant changes to the structure of the organisation on Wednesday.
Steele launched a comprehensive review when he took over four months ago.
"This has been a comprehensive review and there will be significant changes," said an RFU spokesman.
The recommendations will not impact on Martin Johnson and the England coaching team but Rob Andrew's post as elite rugby director is under threat.
Andrew came under fire last year after England's autumn and Six Nations campaigns but, although he is not expected to leave the RFU, it is likely his role will be redefined.
Steele, the former UK Sport boss, wants to strengthen the management of the RFU in preparation for hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Should his plan be approved then a new position in the elite department would also be created - a role it is understood that would suit a figure like Sir Clive Woodward.
England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach is currently performance director at the British Olympic Association.
The former Australia head coach Eddie Jones has also expressed an interest should such a position become available.
Andrew's brief when he beat Woodward to the job of elite rugby director in 2006 was wide-ranging.
He successfully brokered a deal with the Premiership clubs and is now responsible for managing the elite player agreement as well as referee development and England representative teams at all levels.
Over the last four years, he has presided over the departure of two England coaches - Andy Robinson and Brian Ashton - and the appointment of Johnson.
The previous chief executive Francis Baron transformed the union's finances but the focus of Steele's tenure is to maximise the benefits to rugby at all levels of hosting the 2015 World Cup.
A successful England team is key to that and although England defied the odds to reach the 2007 World Cup final, they have not won a Six Nations ***le since Woodward's all-conquering team of 2003.
But below senior level, the Under-18s have lost only once in three years while the Under-20s have reached two World Cup finals.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/9338500.stm

 

[Feicarsinn]

But, but...... who'll do absolutely nothing now?

 

[Duckdee]

The announcement: "I'll tell you tomorrow."

 

[Teh Mite]

£5 to the TRF fund says Clive Woodward or Jim Mallender are brought in.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

That'd be like losing a penny and finding a solid gold ferrari full of twentys
However, could Mallinder do both Saints and that?
I realise the post mainly involves doing nothing, and eating prawn sandwiches, but still....
However, Woodward maybe, think he's coaching at Fylde these days? Could juggle the two...

 

[Duckdee]

Not Woodward, he's sticking with the Olympics.

 

[Teh Mite]

Rob Andrew's role at RFU scrapped in overhaul


<table align="right" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="226"> <tbody><tr><td>

Andrew was appointed as director of elite rugby in 2006

</td></tr> </tbody></table> Rob Andrew's role as director of elite rugby at the Rugby Football Union (RFU) has been scrapped in an overhaul of the organisation's structure.
Chief executive John Steele, who led a review, also confirmed the RFU would be appoint a new performance director.
BBC Sport understands that Sir Clive Woodward will not apply for an RFU post, staying in his Olympic role.
The new structure will take six to nine months to put in place and Andrew will remain in his position until then.
With approval from the executive board, Steele has decided to create a more streamlined approach in the build up to the 2015 World Cup due to be held in England.
There will be a single rugby department divided into the areas of performance, operations and development with each area having its own director.
Those positions will be advertised from next week and it is understood Andrew, who was appointed as elite director of rugby in August 2006, has been invited to apply for the role of operations director.
England team manager Martin Johnson will report to the performance director and with his team's first Six Nations game against Wales on 4 February and 2011 Rugby World Cup due to begin on 9 September, it is likely that RFU will want to appoint his new boss quickly. Andrew said in a statement: "Change is never easy but there are some exciting opportunities and challenges ahead.
"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."
Steele added: "[This] 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.
"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."
Andrew came under fire last year after England's Six Nations campaign but oversaw a resurgence in the team during the autumn internationals.
The 47-year-old beat Woodward to the role of director of elite rugby in 2006 and has had a wide-ranging role since.
He successfully brokered a deal with the Premiership clubs for better access to England players and among his many roles has overall responsibility for England teams at all levels.
The former fly-half appointed current team manager Johnson, but with British Olympic Association performance director Woodward ruling himself out of the running to concentrate on a "home Olympics", the focus will switch to Andrew's effective successor.
Former Australia head coach Eddie Jones is among those to have expressed an interest.
Elsewhere, the RFU said that roles for a chief commercial officer and a chief financial officer will be created with enhanced responsibilities, while five executives have left the business with immediate effect as their roles no longer exist within the new structure.



And he's Gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooone...! Yay!

 

[gingergenius]

:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d:d

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Excellent news

 

[Feicarsinn]

As an Irish rugby supporter all I have to say on this is: ********.

 

[Teh Mite]

As an Irish rugby supporter all I have to say on this is: ********.

You can have him to replace Kidney if you'd like?

 

[Feicarsinn]

You're alright. We'll be fine.

 

[Teh Mite]

You sure? Honestly, we insist!

Think of him as our way of saying "sorry" for for all the naughtiness down the centuries!


Or maybe taking him will be your way of saying "Sorry" for Louie Walsh!

 

[Feicarsinn]

 

[Teh Mite]

You behave or we'll send you Louie Spence at the same time.

 

[Duckdee]

But what does this all mean, and how will it help RWC 2015?

 

[Teh Mite]

But what does this all mean, and how will it help RWC 2015?

For starters it means that selection of players might well be based on form instead of the mouse-faced weasels nepotism. It also means that the RFU and Clubs may finally end this war of words and work together as the end of Barons legacy is brought down.

 

[Duckdee]

For starters it means that selection of players might well be based on form instead of the mouse-faced weasels nepotism. It also means that the RFU and Clubs may finally end this war of words and work together as the end of Barons legacy is brought down.

Then I echo everyone's pleasure.

 

[Charles]

Drat!! Our nefarious scheme comes to an end as the treacherous villain is exiled...

 

[Teh Mite]

White to apply for RFU job



Jake White: The right man for England?
Related links



World-Cup winning former Springboks coach Jake White has confirmed his interest in the newly created role of performance director at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

White has been widely touted as an ideal candidate for the job since RFU chief executive John Steele revealed his plans to re-structure English rugby's governing body last week.

"I haven't been approached by anybody [as yet] but would I consider it? Well of course I would. It's a fantastic job," he told Sport 24.

The Performance Director role would involve overseeing rugby at all levels of the game in England, from the age-group side up to the senior national side.

White added that in the era of professional sport, he saw no reason why working with England manager Martin Johnson would be a problem.

"I wouldn't see it as being somebody's boss. I'd really love a role like that, to impart the knowledge that I've picked up from winning with the seniors and juniors and being involved in developing the game in South Africa for the last 25 to 30 years. It'd be fantastic to be involved with a country like England," he added.

"I've always made it clear that England is the one country that I feel is very similar to the South African model. They've got a lot of players, ethos and passion in the game and one of the best records at World Cups."

White has further revealed that while he would prefer to be involved with the Springboks, he has been met with closed doors.

"My first love would be to help the Boks again," White told rugbyxv.co.za.

"But now I've got the gist of the message from the current leadership, and I know I'm not going to get back in. No one has approached me to help South African rugby in the past three years even when they've looked to set up rugby committees, and I don't see that changing.

"I would really like to be involved in coaching again on a permanent basis, and if other opportunities such as helping England arise, I've got to look at them."