Woodward opts to remain with BOA after informal talks with RFU

Woodward, the architect of England’s 2003 World Cup triumph in Australia, had been installed as clear favourite to become the Rugby Football Union’s first performance director. But Woodward, 55, underlined his total commitment to the British Olympic Association and confirmed he would not be attending any interviews with the RFU.

A senior Twickenham source said that no appointment would be made without a candidate going through the full interview process, scotching any suggestion that Woodward could be approached and directly offered the job.

Woodward revealed he had participated in “informal conversations” with “senior figures” at the RFU, but that no formal interview had taken place.

The performance director position has proved a topic of debate in recent weeks at Twickenham and beyond, and when the initial job description was unexpectedly diluted in terms of its powers, many doubted Woodward would retain interest.

But the RFU management board, on a narrow majority vote, then effectively reinstated the old job specification, with current England manager Martin Johnson reporting directly to the performance director after the World Cup in New Zealand later this year. Johnson’s existing contract expires in December.

That was seen as a victory for Woodward’s backers in the RFU.

The interview process is understood to have been put back to the beginning of next month, but when it does start, Woodward will not feature for a job created by RFU chief executive John Steele’s recent restructuring plan.

Steele could now find himself having to placate dissenting voices within the RFU amid fears of possible political fall-out, although it is known others at Twickenham would take an opposite view.

Woodward, the British Olympic Association’s director of sport and Team GB deputy chef de mission for London 2012, said: “Since the Rugby Football Union announced its restructuring plan late last year, there has been considerable speculation that I might return to the RFU.

“With the full knowledge of Colin Moynihan (BOA chairman) and Andy Hunt (BOA chief executive), I have had informal conversations regarding the role of performance director with senior figures at the RFU. However, I have not participated in a formal interview for this position at any stage in the RFU process.”

The RFU must now decide whether to retain their current shortlist of two names, or increase it back to three. Woodward apart, other names linked with the performance director post include current RFU academy boss Stuart Lancaster and England Cricket managing director Hugh Morris.