Irish won't let their Exile go
Wed, 14 May 2008 14:48
London Irish has vowed to hold onto their Director of Rugby, Brian Smith, despite media speculation that he would soon join up with the England coaching staff - at the request of manager Martin Johnson.
According to a report in the The Times Johnson has offered Smith the role of backs coach with England and was hoping to tie up a deal in time for the Australian to join the summer tour to New Zealand.
According to the report negotiations were continuing to secure Smith's immediate release from London Irish.
However, the Guinness Premiership club made it clear they will not release him from his contract.
Andrew Coppel, Chairman of London Irish, admitted that Smith has indicated that he has higher ambitions, including working with England's national team.
"We are aware of Brian Smith's ambitions to further his career at international level at some point in the future," Coppel said in a statement on Wednesday.
"However, he is contracted to London Irish for another year and our intention is that the contract will be honoured.
"Two weeks ago the club received an official approach about Brian Smith from the Rugby Football Union [RFU], verbally through its Director of Elite Rugby [Rob Andrew]. The club's board considered the request and rejected it," Coppel said.
He also warned that England should, at no stage, approach Smith directly, as that would be in breach of protocol.
"Under various codes of conduct governing both the RFU and clubs, any approach to a player or coach who has more than six months remaining on his contract, is expressly forbidden - unless the club concerned gives its consent.
"London Irish has given no such consent to the RFU with regard to Brian Smith," Coppel added.
Smith certainly would not want to leave London Irish, who have six players on duty with England or the Saxons next month, on bad terms.
Smith was also linked with Ireland as the successor to Eddie O'Sullivan as head coach earlier this year and admitted at the time that he would like to be involved with an international team.
Smith, 41, was capped by his native Australia six times in 1987 before switching allegiance to Ireland, for whom he made nine appearances between 1989 and 1991. He was also captain of Oxford University.
Back home he played for the Queensland Reds in Rugby Union and for Balmain Tigers in Rugby League.
After a spell with ACT Brumbies, Smith joined Bath in 2002, working alongside Michael Foley, a fellow Australian, before moving to Japan, where he was in charge of the Ricoh club.
It was from there that London Irish recruited him in March 2005.
