Tuesday 22 March 2016 22:32, UK
England chief Ian Ritchie says axed World Cup boss Stuart Lancaster is unlikely to return to the RFU as a replacement for Joe Lydon.
Lydon resigned as England's head of international player development last week, with the RFU now reviewing the structure of its performance set-up.
Lancaster guided England's stars of tomorrow as England's elite rugby director from 2008, rising to head coach in late 2011 before being unseated after the autumn's failed World Cup.
Chief executive Ritchie refused to rule out an RFU role for Lancaster, but suggested the organisation will seek fresh blood to replace Lydon.
"We came to the view at the time that it was best to make the clean break and that is what happened," said Ritchie.
"Nobody is ever going to ignore Stuart in terms of what he has done and what he has achieved for rugby but the key thing is to look at the structure looking forward."
Ritchie hailed England's first Six Nations Grand Slam since 2003 as perfect vindication for installing the union's first foreign head coach in Eddie Jones.
The Grand Slam also proved Jones' installation of Dylan Hartley as captain a shrewd move, Ritchie asserted, the Northampton hooker starting to move past his litany of prior suspensions.
"Yes I think to win the Grand Slam first time around is vindication," said Ritchie, of new boss Jones.
"We wanted a highly experienced coach with international background and he has brought that clarity in terms of communication.
Stuart Barnes says England's Grand Slam winners are only getting started.
"There were many positive things that Stuart did. Eddie paid tribute to that and that's the right thing to do.
"Eddie and I did have a conversation about trust over Dylan as captain, because of the perspective and the circumstances.
"On the other hand, Dylan's undoubted leadership qualities, the way he's dealt with all those circumstances that have been uncomfortable for him, and the fact he has got those leadership abilities, and the fact he's rather a good hooker, you take all those into account.
"I'm glad for Dylan, I think he's done a fantastic job as captain."
