Sir Clive Woodward's snub to RFU

Sir Clive Woodward has appeared to rule himself out of a return to Twickenham as the Rugby Football Union's performance director.

Woodward, England's 2003 World Cup-winning coach, had been installed as favourite for a post created by RFU chief executive John Steele's recent restructuring plan.

But Woodward, the British Olympic Association's director of sport and Team GB deputy chef de mission, has now distanced himself from the role in his first public comment on the speculation that has raged for weeks.

In a statement released by the BOA, Woodward revealed he had participated in "informal conversations" with RFU "senior figures" with the full knowledge of BOA chairman Lord Colin Moynihan and chief executive Andy Hunt.

But he also confirmed he would not be attending interviews relating to the performance director's position.

Woodward said: "In order to prevent any further speculation, I would like to formally confirm that I will not be attending any interviews for this position."