Rob Andrew the biggest name in frame for RFU change

Rob Andrew's position at the Rugby Football Union is set to be redefined after chief executive John Steele received the go-ahead to make significant changes to the senior management structure.

• Changing times: Rob Andrew. Picture: Getty

Steele launched a comprehensive review of the RFU when he took over at Twickenham four months ago and yesterday presented his findings to the board of directors at a meeting in Birmingham.

The former UK Sport boss set out to strengthen the RFU in preparation for England hosting the 2015 Rugby World Cup and his recommendations were unanimously approved.

Andrew's wide-ranging role as England's elite rugby director, which he has held since beating Sir Clive Woodward to the appointment in 2006, is one of those to have come under the microscope.

The RFU will not confirm any details of the changes until this afternoon, giving Steele a chance to speak to staff directly. Andrew is not expected to leave the RFU but is set to receive a new brief, with Steele's plan to include the creation of a new performance director post.

Steele said: "I am delighted that the board unanimously accepted my recommendations for change. We have a hugely exciting five years ahead of us and I want to make sure we are in the best possible shape to seize the opportunity a home World Cup gives us to grow and develop the game.

"The changes we agreed will deliver a simpler management structure with clearer leadership and are changes that are right for rugby and right for the RFU."

It has been suggested that the performance director role could appeal to someone of Woodward's experience, although the exact job description remains under wraps.

England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach is currently employed as elite performance director at the British Olympic Association.

The recommendations have not impacted on Martin Johnson and the England coaching team, who will remain in place until at least the World Cup later this year.

But there has been speculation the new structure could now see Johnson report directly to Steele, the former Northampton fly-half and coach. Those changes would fit with Steele's plan to streamline the management structure and place rugby back at the heart of the RFU's remit.

Steele's predecessor Francis Baron transformed the union's finances but the focus of Steele's tenure is to maximise the benefits of hosting the 2015 World Cup and former England captain Lawrence Dallaglio last night backed his plans to shake up the executive structure .

"It is important that we strive to improve all the time on and off the field. England at this moment in time have a very successful structure from the bottom up but not from the top down," Dallaglio said.

"With the Rugby World Cup in 2015 (in England), clearly the onus is now going to shift back towards the top end of the game.We live in a business of high performance and in sport, whether you are on or off the field, it is a results-driven business and it is a game that constantly reviews itself and looks for ways to improve. That can sometimes mean changing people.

"I am sure John has come in with a fresh pair of eyes and a fresh pair of ears, he is a rugby man who has played the game and administered the game as well as being an administrator with UK Sport so he does understand the game."

Dallaglio was not surprised to hear Woodward's name linked with the RFU again. "As I understand it, Clive was in the frame when Rob Andrew was appointed in the first place so, naturally, if positions are reviewed then his name comes back into the frame," Dallaglio said.