Johnson in line to stay in charge

Johnson is contracted until December and the RFU, under previous chief executive John Steele, decided there was no need to engage in contract negotiations until the tournament is over.

After leading England to their first Six Nations title in eight years, Johnson hinted he would like to continue in a job he finds “very addictive”.

If Johnson still feels the same after the World Cup, then Thomas would welcome the chance to sit down and discuss the future with him. “Martin is such an honest assessor of his own performance that he will judge himself after the World Cup,” said Thomas, who stood down as RFU chairman but will run the day-to-day union affairs until the new year.

“There is unlikely to be a CEO before January. I will have no problem in sitting down with Martin after the World Cup and resolving his position in the interests of England and the coaching team.”

The upheaval in the corridors of power at the RFU should have no effect on England’s chances of success at the World Cup, which kicks off against Argentina on September 10.