RFU Podcast: the future of English Rugby
The future of English rugby from international teams to the grassroots game is the focus of this week’s RFU Podcast.
Team manager Martin Johnson reviews an RBS 6 Nations Championship that saw three England teams claim titles before looking forward to the battle for selection for this year’s Rugby World Cup.
And RFU chief executive John Steele introduces two key appointments at Twickenham in new Rugby Operations Director Rob Andrew and Rugby Development Director Steve Grainger.
"We’ve taken quite a few big steps in the last year and been through some really high pressure games," Johnson told RFU.com.
"There are lots of positives, far more than the negatives. Losing to Ireland was a big disappointment to us and it should be, but overall in the tournament we’ve done a lot of good things.
"Now there are some players about who are really going to threaten and come into a World Cup camp in June and press for places. A World Cup is a special thing to go to."
We also hear from Catherine Spencer, the former England Women’s captain who retires from the international game celebrating another Grand Slam but with a marathon challenge ahead, and Elliot Daly, the England Under 20 centre, talks us through the conclusion of their Six Nations clean sweep.
New Zealand’s Dan Carter is preparing for Super 15′s poignant first sortie into the Northern Hemisphere with the Crusaders facing the Sharks at Twickenham Stadium on Sunday in a game that will help raise money for the Red Cross’s New Zealand Earthquake Appeal.
And sevens legend Ben Gollings tells us what’s so special about the Cathay Pacific Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens as England prepare to launch their bid for more silverware.
For the full interviews, check out today’s RFU Podcast. Here you can listen to the weekly podcast or subscribe to itunes and have it delivered straight to your inbox each week.
The RFU Podcast takes you inside English rugby from the grassroots to the elite.
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