Healey keen on England role
March 24 2008
Former England back Austin Healey has admitted he would like to be involved in the England coaching set-up, but insists he has not been offered the job of backs coach.
Healey, who won 51 caps for England, has been heavily linked with a role alongside Martin Johnson, a possible new team manager.
"The furthest I have gone is speaking to Brian Ashton about where England are going and my interest in coaching," Healey told BBC Sport.
"I haven't been offered a job, but hopefully that could be something that transpires in future.
"I am interested in getting into coaching but the reports I have read this week are all pie in the sky."
The former Leicester star, who toured with the British and Irish Lions in 1997 and 2001, has no previous experience in coaching at the highest level. He was, though, one of the most inventive players in world rugby, lining up for England in several different positions, including scrum-half, fly-half and wing.
Rugby Football Union Director of Elite Rugby Rob Andrew will present his annual Six Nations review to the RFU management board on Wednesday.
He is likely to recommend that Head Coach Ashton and his assistants John Wells and Mike Ford continue in their current roles, although possibly with extra personnel alongside them.
Andrew is understood to have held talks with Johnson, even though Ashton has already said he does not want a team manager "who's going to interfere or get involved in the rugby side of things".
Twickenham bosses are keen to have any new managerial and coaching team in place ahead of England's two-Test New Zealand tour in June.
But it is unclear at this stage whether or not any rubber-stamped decisions will be announced by the management board next week.