Brian Ashton was appointed England's rugby coach on Wednesday, taking over from Andy Robinson.


The 60-year-old Ashton will take over his coaching duties with immediate effect, the English Rugby Football Union (RFU) said in a statement.
His first game in charge will be the Six Nations opener against Scotland at Twickenham on Saturday February 3.

"It's a massive privilege and honour to be asked to do the job," Ashton said.
"I recognise the challenges ahead of us and along with the other Coaches team my focus now is to prepare the England team to play Scotland."

Ashton was appointed England's attack coach in May and he will continue to work with forwards coach John Wells and defence coach Mike Ford the RFU statement said.
He would then have nine further games before England launch their World Cup defence against the United States in Lens on September 8, with France (three times), Wales (twice), South Africa (twice), Ireland and Italy all on the agenda.

Follow up:

Wales are eager to sign up England's World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward as their director of elite performance, press reports said on Tuesday.


Woodward had been in the running for a similar post with England earlier this year but the English Rugby Football Union opted instead for Newcastle's Rob Andrew.


After leading England to World Cup glory in Australia in 2003, Woodward stood down and recently he has been employed as the British Olympic Association's performance director.


But WRU chief executive Roger Lewis told the Guardian:

"We will be conducting a global search to make sure we make the right appointment.
"We want someone who has experience of working at the elite level of sport; Sir Clive has many of the skills we are looking for and he is filling the same role for the British Olympic Association."

Source: IOL, South Africa