Andrew: RFU at rock bottom
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ByEurosport
Updated 24/11/2011 at 16:28 GMT
Rob Andrew has admitted that English rugby has hit "rock bottom" after a turbulent week which has seen manager Martin Johnson resign and the leaking of an internal report into the disastrous 2011 World Cup campaign.
2010 RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew
Image credit: PA Photos
Andrew, the RFU's elite rugby director, has himself come under pressure as the cost of England's humiliation both on and off the pitch in New Zealand continues to be counted.
However he insists he will not follow the lead of Johnson and attack coach Brian Smith by resigning from his post.
"I am absolutely shattered by what is going on both on and off the field," Andrews said. "The RFU has to sort itself out, this is rock bottom, the lowest of the low, and it can't be allowed to continue."
The 48-year-old also moved to make clear that he was employed in an administrative capacity and not a sporting one, but accepted his share of the blame for the debacle.
"The reality of my job is that I'm not the England team manager. I'm the elite rugby director and I run a big department," he added. "But I absolutely accept responsibility for what is going on here.
"The players have let themselves down, the coaches have maybe not done as good a job as they should, I've not done as good a job as I should have done. I should have supported Martin more.
"Does it mean I'm going to resign? No, I'm not. Does it mean it's all broken? No, it doesn't."
The RFU has described the leaking of the report, which included dozens of scathing comments about the campaign submitted anonymously by England players, as "a serious breach of confidentiality".
Andrew was equally critical of the confidential document being given to the press.
"It's being taken apart almost deliberately by somebody. It must be stopped now.
"I wish I knew who it was [who leaked the information]. We've got to find out because it's just not right.
"We were dealing with some confidential information which we asked the players to give us in good faith.
"Then we have a responsibility to sift through it. You have a responsibility when you have that information to use it properly.
"This has got to stop for the good of the game. It is not what rugby is about."
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