Woodward: RFU is a ‘laughing stock’

FORMER ENGLAND coach Clive Woodward has slammed the beleaguered Rugby Football Union, calling the organisation a “laughing stock”.

The RFU has no permanent chief executive and is currently searching for a new coach after Martin Johnson last week resigned as England mentor.

Woodward, coach when England won the 2003 Rugby World Cup, says the organisation is mad to be trying to appoint a successor to Johnson, given that the administration side of things higher up is in such disarray.

“In sporting terms, it is now life-and-death time for English rugby,” he wrote in his column in The Sunday Times.

“But I also have the sinking feeling that when the RFU reaches the end of a totally flawed process and announces the new England coach as successor to Johnson, when the chosen one is anointed, people will turn to each and say, 'You must be joking.'

“There is a real danger of the wrong man being appointed at this vital time in the development of our rugby.”

Aside from having no permanent CEO or coach at the moment, England is also without a skipper, as Lewis Moody recently announced his international retirement.

The current lack of leadership in English rugby was a worry, says Woodward.

“What about the morgue that is currently Twickenham, what is the vision for that?

"There is nobody who understands elite performance and rugby at the very top," he added.

"Equally disturbing, the same people are going to appoint the next coach."