Woodward signs four-year contract

England coach Clive Woodward today signed a new four-year deal with the Rugby Football Union which will keep him in the job until after the 2007 World Cup.

Woodward’s current contract was due to expire at the end of this autumn’s World Cup but the RFU have moved to tie down the man who has guided England to 13 successive Test wins.

His latest triumphs came on this summer’s tour to New Zealand and Australia when his side became the first England team to beat the Wallabies on home turf, just a week after inflicting defeat on the All Blacks.