English Rugby
Campese declares England interest
ESPNscrum Staff
April 25, 2012
Australia Sevens assistant coach David Campese looks on during training, April 6, 2008
David Campese's declaration in the England job will be greeted with a mixed reaction © Getty Images
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Australian legend David Campese has thrown his hat in the ring for the vacant England backs coach post.

The threequarter retired from the game back in 1996, with 101 caps and 64 tries to his name for the Wallabies, and has since coached the Natal Sharks and the Tongan Sevens team, alongside pursuing his commercial interests. With England potentially a backs coach short ahead of the trip to South Africa in June, Campese is adamant that he could do a job for Stuart Lancaster.

But even Campese admits that his declaration may be given short shrift by the Rugby Football Union after his history of provoking the English.

"This isn't a joke," Campese told The Times. "People will say, 'Oh, there's Campo sounding off again.' But that's not the case.

"I would love to help out if they were interested in talking to me. I think I could bring something, even if it was only in a consultancy or advisory role. I know Brad Barritt well from his time with the Sharks and he knows what I can do."

Despite Campese's offer, it seems that former All Blacks coach Wayne Smith is still the favourite to land the post on a full-time basis. Smith is reportedly considering a job offer from Lancaster to join the England backroom staff after the pair met in South Africa.

Due to Smith's Super Rugby commitments however, reports in the Daily Telegraph suggest that London Irish coach Mike Catt could be offered the role on an interim basis for the summer tour of South Africa.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.

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