Aviva Premiership
England's World Cup failure not fault of Premiership clubs - Mark McCafferty
ESPN Staff
November 24, 2015
© David Rogers/Getty Images for Premiership Rugby

England's World Cup failure was down to poor coaching and not the fault of English clubs, Premiership Rugby chief executive Mark McCafferty has claimed as he rejected plans for a radical shakeup of the league.

England became the first World Cup hosts ever to exit the tournament at the pool stage earlier this year, a collapse which cost head coach Stuart Lancaster his job. However, the Aviva Premiership was not immune to the fall-out, with some criticising the top flight for failing to produce enough world class players.

Plans are reportedly being floated inside Twickenham to overhaul the professional rugby structure, with suggestions ranging from a new body to run the professional club and international side, to the RFU purchasing Premiership teams.

McCafferty, however, has insisted the clubs are doing enough to produce homegrown talent and instead pointed the finger at England's senior set-up.

"We haven't got to the ultimate goals yet but that doesn't mean to say that everything is rotten in the state of Denmark," he told the Times.

"The raw materials are clearly there. The academies are working very well. We are at 70 percent plus of English qualified players in the league, which puts to shame any comparison with Premiership football and the French league. We have the thick end of 200 players playing every weekend who are English qualified.

"The issue is the World Cup results of the senior England team. When you look at the quality of players coming through, people have to recognise that maybe the England coaching teams need to get more out of those players in an international context. That is not a systemic issue.

"Everyone has an opinion, but we have to play to the strengths of the English system and not try and replicate someone else's. That is what other countries want because they know what the potential is if we get that coaching set up right."

© ESPN Staff

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