O’Shea promoted to national academy director

FORMER Irish international Conor O’Shea has been promoted by the RFU in England to the position of national academy director in a backroom re-shuffle yesterday, which saw Andy Robinson retain his position as England coach, but a host of his lieutenants get the chop.

RTÉ pundit O'Shea, currently director of regional academies in England, was promoted to the new position following the resignation of Chris Spice, the current performance director, and the merger of the RFU's performance department with the England management team to form a new elite rugby department.

Robinson was retained as England head coach following a post-Six Nations review but his assistants Phil Larder, Joe Lydon and Dave Alred will all be replaced.