Ashton to Continue As England Head Coach

Brian Ashton has been re-appointed as England head coach. The Rugby Football Union's management board today approved the recommendation from elite rugby director Rob Andrew for Ashton to continue in the post. Assistant coaches John Wells and Mike Ford have also been retained following a comprehensive review into the state of the national team.

The RFU released a brief statement but did not confirm the length of contracts awarded to Ashton, Wells and Ford. Andrew said: "I'm delighted that Brian and his coaching team will remain with England and, like them, I'm looking forward to what will be a challenging international year in 2008."

Despite leading England to the World Cup final in October, Ashton's future as head coach was in serious doubt immediately after the tournament.
Senior players Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt were publicly critical of his leadership during the World Cup.

The RFU would not commit themselves to keeping Ashton in place until after Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, had conducted a thorough post-World Cup review. Andrew consulted England's World Cup players, the management staff and coaches from around the Premiership before delivering his final report to the management board at Twickenham today.

Andrew added: "It's been a thorough review and a process that everyone from the coaches to the players and the management all supported."

In addition to the length of contracts, Andrew will have plenty of questions to answer when he and Ashton front a press conference at Twickenham tomorrow. Andrew will need to confirm his thinking over the appointment of a team manager.

Ashton, as Andy Robinson did before him, has made clear his desire for the RFU to appoint someone to share the burden and allow him to focus on coaching. And there was no confirmation tonight of any additional appointments to the England coaching structure.

Wasps head coach Shaun Edwards, who has already received an offer to join Wales on a part-time basis, has been strongly linked with an England role. And Graham Rowntree is thought to be in line for a more permanent role after impressing as England's scrum coach during the World Cup.