Woodward in frame for England job after RFU reversal

Sir Clive Woodward could yet return to Twickenham as ­England’s new performance director after an extraordinary double U-turn by the Rugby Football Union (RFU) in the space of a few days.

Tuesday saw the RFU announce the successful candidate for the newly created post would have no involvement with the Test side – immediately making the role less attractive to high-profile candidates such as World Cup winning former England coach Woodward.

The decision, taken by chief executive John Steele and approved by the RFU’s management board last month, was then dramatically reversed at an emergency board meeting late on Thursday.

That followed widespread criticism of the RFU for changing the job description when an interview process had been underway for months – something that went against all standard business practice.

And some Twickenham insiders became concerned such a move would be widely interpreted as a snub to Woodward, who coached an England team captained by current manager Martin Johnson to the 2003 Rugby World Cup.

Woodward resigned 10 months after Johnson lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in frustration at what he saw as the RFU’s failure to support his efforts to keep England at the summit of world rugby.

Now the performance director of the British Olympic Association, Woodward has long been linked with a return to the England set-up.

Reports have suggested Johnson would have no issues with having Woodward as his immediate boss.

Whoever is eventually chosen as performance director will have no direct involvement with the England set-up for the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand in September and October.