Nick Mallett could help England retain the World Cup next year after the South African expressed interest in the newly created role of director of elite rugby at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).
Mallett, currently director of rugby at Western Province, was quoted as saying he would be interested in any approach from the RFU concerning a role in which he would work alongside England’s head coach, Andy Robinson.
”It is similar to the job I’m doing at the moment,” Mallett told Wednesday’s edition of the Guardian.
”I am with Western Province until 2007 and I have not considered anything else until after the next World Cup, but the position with England does sound interesting. I would have no problems working in England or for the RFU. I spent 12 years in France and played rugby in England and Italy.
”Rugby is not a sport where you have to dedicate yourself to a single country. There are not too many of these jobs and you have to move to get them.”
The new role, which could tempt Mallett, was created as part of a shake-up of the England management structure that resulted in the loss of ten coaching positions in the wake of Six Nations defeats by France, Scotland and Ireland.
Under the new system, Robinson’s responsibilities have been reduced and the new elite director will be in charge of strategy, player release and management and administration.
The job has been seen in some quarters as having been designed to facilitate the return of Sir Clive Woodward to the England set-up, but the man who coached England to World Cup glory in 2003 remains, publicly at least, committed to forging a career in football.
Woodward is currently in charge of youth development at Southampton but his situation could change if an ongoing battle for control of the club results in his main backer, Rupert Lowe, being ousted as chairperson. — AFP
