Ashton joins English coaching ticket

England have made the latest high-profile appointment to their new-look coaching team by securing the services of former Ireland…

England have made the latest high-profile appointment to their new-look coaching team by securing the services of former Ireland coach Brian Ashton.

Ashton will link up with England as their new attack coach, joining supremo Andy Robinson, forwards coach John Wells and defence specialist Mike Ford, who had previously worked under Eddie O'Sullivan in the Irish set-up.

Ashton, who coached Ireland between 1996 and 1998, previously worked with England during Clive Woodward's regime, but he left the Rugby Football Union's national academy six months ago to rejoin Bath as head coach.

However, the lure of international rugby has proved irresistible and he will leave Bath with immediate effect.