Leeds furious at coach poach

Stuart Lancaster: Unwitting centre of a storm

Leeds Chief Executive Gary Hetherington has launched a furious attack on the RFU, claiming they approached departing Head Coach Stuart Lancaster before approaching the club.

Lancaster will leave Headingley at the end of the season to replace Conor O'Shea as the head of elite player development at Twickenham.

But while Lancaster departs with the best wishes of a club he has served as player, captain, academy manager and coach for 16 years, Leeds are angry at the RFU's handling of the process.

"We are obviously disappointed not only in losing Stuart but also with the RFU's method of recruitment," said Hetherington.

"For a sport's governing body to target the most senior employee of one of its member clubs, without dialogue with the club, is disappointing to say the least."

The RFU deny any wrongdoing and insist the procedure, led by director of elite rugby Rob Andrew, was handled above board and in a professional manner.

Twickenham officials insist the position was advertised after O'Shea indicated he would be leaving for a new post at the English Institute of Sport and that Lancaster applied for it in the standard way.

Leeds do not plan on taking the matter any further and are not chasing compensation but it is another shot across the bows for the RFU, just weeks after they were roundly criticised for their treatment of Brian Ashton.

The RFU admitted they mishandled the appointment of Martin Johnson as England's new team manager, in a process which cast Ashton out on a limb.

Leeds will now turn their attention to finding a new director of rugby, who they hope to have in place by July.

Lancaster has been in charge at Headingley for the last two seasons and was previously head of the club's Academy, helping develop England hopefuls like Jordan Crane and Danny Care.

As director of rugby, Lancaster guided Leeds back into the Guinness Premiership in 2007 but could not keep the club in the top flight this season.

His final game in charge will be against Wasps on Saturday.

"The club has been a huge part of my life. I was here when the club was formed 16 years ago and I have given my all as a player, as captain, as academy manager and now as director of rugby.

"I can think of no other role I would have left the club for. However, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it allows to me to work and coach at the top end of the international game, developing senior and young players alike to play for England.

"This opportunity has come about in a very short period of time, so much so that I had already made many plans for next season.

"Hopefully, that will leave firm foundations for the club to build on for next season and the mission of returning to the Guinness Premiership."

Lancaster will be responsible for the elite player development process, which helps identify talent from the age of 13, plus the overall management of the England Under-18s, Under-20s, Sevens and Saxons representative sides.

The RFU clarified that Lancaster's appointment does not affect the job offer of academy head coach made to Ashton when he was replaced as England supremo by Johnson.

Andrew added: "These discussions are continuing."