London Irish confirm they rejected RFU's Smith approach
London Irish have confirmed that the RFU have made an approach for their Director of Rugby, Brian Smith, about becoming England backs' coach - but they have rejected the approach out of hand. Smith has been a huge success in his three years at the Madjeski stadium, and led the club to this year's Heineken Cup semi-finals.
And after speculation linked him with a job under incoming England Team Manager Martin Johnson, Irish insists they want the Australian to serve the final year of his contract with the club.
"We are aware of Brian Smith's ambitions to further his career at international level at some point in the future," confirmed London Irish's chairman, Andrew Coppel, in a statement.
"However, he is contracted to London Irish for another year and our intention is that the contract will be honoured.
"Two weeks ago the club received an official approach about Brian Smith from the Rugby Football Union (RFU), verbally through its Director of Elite Rugby (Rob Andrew). The club's Board considered the request and rejected it."
"Under various codes of conduct governing both the RFU and clubs, any approach to a player or coach who has more than six months remaining on his contract, is expressly forbidden unless the club concerned gives its consent.
"London Irish has given no such consent to the RFU with regard to Brian Smith."
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