Sir Clive Woodward takes Youth Olympics role

SIR Clive Woodward has been announced as the chef de mission for the British team at the first winter Youth Olympics in January.

The appointment is a strong indication that Woodward will not join the Rugby Football Union as performance director until next year at the earliest - and potentially not until after the London 2012 Olympics where he is due to be deputy chef de mission.

The RFU are expected to make appointing Woodward, the former Rugby World Cup-winning manager, their top priority when a new chief executive is appointed to succeed John Steele.

Woodward, the British Olympic Association's (BOA) director of sport, said in a statement: "I am delighted to take on the role of chef de mission for the first winter Youth Olympic Games."