RUGBY:ROB ANDREW will find out this week whether he has survived the sack following a strategic review by the English Rugby Football Union (RFU).
John Steele, since taking over from Francis Baron last September as the body’s chief executive, has made a detailed study of how the union, which has more than 500 employees and eight directors on its board, operates, and will today submit a list of recommended changes to the RFU’s management board.
Andrew came under fire last year after England’s autumn and Six Nations campaigns, with former national captain Lawrence Dallaglio leading the criticism of the elite rugby director.
While England have performed well at age-group level since Andrew joined in 2006 – the Under-18s have lost only once in three years and the Under-20s have reached two World Cup finals – the senior side has not won the Six Nations since 2003 and some at the RFU feel a more experienced coach, such as Jake White, who led South Africa to the 2007 World Cup, would provide a stronger link with the management team.
Steele has reviewed every department at Twickenham and all eight heads of the major departments, from elite rugby to communications, will be waiting nervously for the management board’s decision.
They will be told on Thursday whether their positions will be affected.
The RFU says the shake-up is not financially motivated, even though its turnover will suffer this year with no November internationals, citing Steele’s determination to appoint his own team and generally make the organisation less flabby.
