Rugby: England in late bid to keep coach

LONDON - England have launched a surprise 11th-hour attempt to keep their assistant coach, former All Black John Mitchell, through to the next Rugby World Cup in 2003.

The Rugby Football Union has approached the 35-year-old, who is scheduled to fly back to Hamilton on April 5, three days after England's final Six Nations match.

Mitchell has been such a key figure in England's revival since their exit from the World Cup last October that the RFU is desperate to keep him as Clive Woodward's forward coach.

Former Waikato captain Mitchell said he still intended to board the jet bound for Auckland.

"I haven't seen any firm offer yet but I have been told about it," he said. "It would be unprofessional for me not to seriously consider it, but at the same time I have kept Gary Dawson [Waikato rugby's chief executive] in the picture and told him what's happening up here.

"I feel I have committed myself to Waikato and I want to honour that contract. I am happy with what I am doing by taking a step backwards initially, before making a bid to get back up to international level again in 2007 or 2011."

However, the belated move to keep Mitchell in England may leave him with a few sleepless nights.

Mitchell has accepted a job as Waikato development officer and he said he had paid for his flights for himself, his wife, Kay, and children, Daryl and Kera, to return home after four years in England.

"I will consider the English offer but I can't see myself staying here for another four years at this stage. Things would have to happen fairly quickly if the counter English offer was too good to turn down."

It was ironic that England were desperate to hold on to him now after their storming Six Nations form, when a few months ago they were keen to release him from his contract, he said.

"It's not just money that would keep me here. It would have to be other things. I'm keen to get into the talent research and development area in New Zealand again and put something back into New Zealand rugby."

If Mitchell decides to stay, farewell comments last week will prove to have been premature. He said: "Thank you, England, you will always have a special place in my heart." Back at the start of the Six Nations season he said he had been made to feel like a foreigner in the squad.

- NZPA