Andrew poised for new RFU post
Rob Andrew is understood to have been appointed as the Rugby Football Union’s new director of rugby operations, with confirmation due later today.
Andrew’s current role as elite rugby director was made redundant in a management shake-up implemented by chief executive John Steele, following a wide-ranging review of the union.
The elite rugby department was split into three areas: performance, operations and development.
Andrew was invited to apply for the operations role after putting in place the structures and negotiating the agreements with Premiership Rugby that have underpinned England’s success this season.
The new position includes those responsibilities as well as overseeing tournaments and competitions, referee and coach development, sports science, medicine and player welfare.
It is understood Andrew has come through a competitive selection process. The RFU will also confirm the identity of the new development director, responsible for the community game, later today.
The recruitment process for the high-profile position of performance director, a role heavily linked with Sir Clive Woodward, has been delayed by a couple of months.
The RFU said some of the key candidates had been unable to take enough time out from their rugby schedules to complete the interview process, which takes around a day and a half.
Andrew will relinquish direct responsibility for England’s elite teams to the performance director, having delivered a Six Nations title and an Under-20s Grand Slam.
In his previous role, Andrew negotiated the English Qualified Player (EQP) scheme and a deal with the Premiership clubs to secure England additional access to players.
Andrew believes he will leave a strong legacy for the new performance director.
“It has been an extraordinary 12 months for this group of players to get where they have, notwithstanding the defeat to Ireland on Saturday,” said Andrew.
“If you had said this time last year we would win away in the southern hemisphere for the first time since 2003, have our biggest win ever against Australia at Twickenham and win the Six Nations in a World Cup year with a lot of young players we’d have all said that would be very, very good.
“The process of development is very strong. We won the Under-20 Grand Slam on Friday and we have a tremendous crop of young players coming through the system.”
