RWC 2015: Sir Ian McGeechan and Ben Kay included on five-man panel to review England's dismal Rugby World Cup campaign
McGeechan and Kay are joined by RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, former FA chief executive Ian Watmore and professional game board chairman Ian Metcalfe
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Your support makes all the difference.The future of English rugby will be decided by four Ians and a Ben after the Rugby Football Union announced a five-man panel to review the disappointing Rugby World Cup performance which included former Scotland and British and Irish Lion Sir Ian McGeechan and 2003 World Cup winner Ben Kay.
Making up the panel are current RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie, former Football Association chief executive Ian Watmore and professional game board chairman Ian Metcalfe.
The quintet will mane their recommendations to the RFU Board once the 2015 Rugby World Cup has ended on 31 October.
The announcement comes more than two weeks after England were eliminated from their own World Cup following the heavy 33-13 defeat to Australia at Twickenham, which came before the tournament hosts’ had wrapped up their pool campaign.
Addressing the review that will begin despite the RFU having to run the remaining four matches in the World Cup, Ritchie said: "While the RFU will be focussing on continuing to deliver a fantastic tournament over the next two weeks, it is hugely disappointing not to have progressed through to the knockout stages," Ritchie said.
"With that in mind, we have begun to review the senior team's campaign to ensure that we learn and improve from this experience in order to be consistently successful.
"There will be extensive input from players, coaches and management staff, as well as an external perspective gathered.
"The details of this feedback will remain confidential, with recommendations then made to the RFU board."
The review will look at the future of head coach Stuart Lancaster as well as his coaches – which include former England players Graham Rowntree, Andy Farrell and Mike Catt – and review how they had an effect on coaching, management and support.
It will also assess the preparation and performances of the squad.
England have a strong coaching team. I cannot see anything better out there which is readily available
However, former British and Irish Lion head coach McGeechan could face some uncomfortable questions over his inclusion, having already penned a column for The Telegraph on why he believes the RFU should not make a rash decision as the options elsewhere are not that appealing right now.
McGeechan wrote in the immeidate aftermath of the defeat to Australa: “England have a strong coaching team in Lancaster, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree. I cannot see anything better out there which is readily available.”
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