Rugby: Henry distances himself from any post with England

New ZEALAND’S World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry has ruled out the possibility of working with England and declared: “It is time to move on.”

Henry, who admitted he was surprised Martin Johnson had stood down as England manager, confirmed he has “no desire to coach a team” after 140 Tests in charge of Wales, the Lions and the All Blacks. The Rugby Football Union is in the process of working out their succession plans, with one possibility being that Stuart Lancaster will take charge on a caretaker basis for the RBS 6 Nations.

Henry, who is in London to coach the Barbarians against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday, said his chances of being involved in Test rugby this time next year were “zero out of ten”.

Johnson announced his decision to stand down following England’s disappointing World Cup campaign.

Meanwhile, Mike Tindall’s appeal against the £25,000 fine imposed on him by the RFU will be heard at Twickenham tomorrow. The 33-year-old was fined and dropped from the England squad following an RFU investigation into his conduct during a night out in Queenstown during the World Cup.