Rob Andrew: RFU director of professional rugby to leave role at end of the season

Andrew leaves his role after ten years with English rugby's governing body

Andrew will depart from Twickenham at the end of the season (Getty)

Rob Andrew is to leave his role as the Rugby Football Union's director of professional rugby.

The former England fly-half Andrew will depart Twickenham at the end of this season.

The RFU said Andrew resigned from his position after "instigating discussions" with the organisation's chief executive Ian Ritchie "for a number of months."

"After 10 years at the RFU and with the impending conclusion of the second Heads of Agreement, it feels like the right time to step down at the end of the season," said Andrew.

"My role has primarily been to set up a structure that would ultimately deliver long-term success to England through a pipeline of talented players coming through the academy system. Bringing together the clubs to support the new academy scheme required recognition from the RFU to reward them to bring on successful academy players and I believe we have achieved this.

“The staff and coaches who have delivered this at both club and England junior level are the unsung heroes and I would like to give them the thanks and recognition they deserve. The pipeline is going from strength-to-strength and I believe will deliver Eddie Jones and his coaches the world-class players that England need to ensure increasing success going forward.

“The key to the relationship success between the clubs and the RFU has been the development of the academy system and desire by club and country to produce home grown players. The RFU now invests with the clubs significantly in the academy system and the England Qualified Player scheme.

"This has led to a progression of successful age grade teams with the U20s, in particular having reached six out of the last eight World Rugby U20 Junior World Championship finals and winning two of the last three.

“I hope and believe that I will leave a secure foundation to build a successful future and I will continue to give my support in any way I can to achieve this.”

More to follow...

PA