Sir Clive Woodward won the World Cup with England in 2003 © Getty Images

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England's World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward has called on the game's hierarchy to act to end the injury crisis that currently plagues the national team.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Woodward argues that England's injury list - currently standing at 12 top players - is not necessarily a case of bad luck, but that there is a structural issue in the game. He says that diverging opinions over player welfare and rest time were at the heart of his resignation just months after winning the World Cup.

"More than a decade on," writes Woodward, "nothing has changed and I still hold this firm view - that, if there's any doubt over fitness, the England coach should have the final say on when England players play for their clubs."

Woodward argues that the RFU had an opportunity two decades ago to take control of their players through central contracts and not create the situation where club and national doctors were liaising constantly over when a player is allowed to play or not. The result of this, he believes, is "the current situation where in every tournament England's squad is decimated by injuries."

"This started in 1995-96 when the sport turned professional," he says. "The RFU had the opportunity to sign the best players on central contracts - it's what the southern hemisphere unions did and what the Irish and Welsh Unions have done. Instead of acting decisively, the RFU allowed clubs to sign players and the opportunity was lost."

Wodward praises the club game in England, including club owners and doctors, but doesn't believe the national team and the club game are working well enough in tandem to counter the player welfare crisis.

"At the moment there's 'England time' and 'club time'," he writes. "The players desperately want to play for England, it is the pinnacle of the game and they'll do anything to nail down their place, especially in a World Cup year. Equally though, they are loyal to their clubs and love playing for them, especially in Europe. That should never change.

"But players are under pressure from both sides. Once they arrive in England camp, they are aware these chances do not come round often. Then, when they return to their clubs, it's time to get to work again and they are eager to contribute.

"Within this tug of war, the medical teams for club and country are under huge pressure to deliver players for selection. My concern is that there's too much emphasis, in both set-ups, to keep players going, week in, week out.

"Although players may 'technically' pass a fitness test, how often are they still rested to avoid any chance of further injury? Or rested to ensure they're available for an England camp - especially in a World Cup year?"