'This makes English rugby look ridiculous' - Woodward slams Eddie Jones

Former England head coach Sir Clive Woodward has slammed Eddie Jones claiming that him working with All Blacks star Beauden Barrett as part of his consultancy role with Japanese side Suntory Sungoliath makes English rugby look "ridiculous".

Jones has been working with Suntory on a consultancy basis and has been involved with the club for more than two decades offering guidance to their coaches and players.

"This makes English rugby look ridiculous and makes you question once again what exactly is going on." - Sir Clive Woodward said of the situation in his Daily Mail column.

"As head coach you demand 100 per cent commitment from your players and you must give it back in return.

"In anyone’s language it is a really bad look. The England coach in Japan coaching and advising with Suntory and Beauden Barrett just weeks after a miserably poor Six Nations campaign.

"It says so much about the muddy thinking at the RFU. Does the CEO Bill Sweeney not see how that is neither acceptable nor wise? Is there nobody at Twickenham with the rugby experience, nous or bottle to tell Jones in some very simple language that the England rugby coach must commit himself solely to that job?"

Jones is using annual leave for his trip to Japan and the RFU has sanctioned his work for Suntory.

"Eddie has had a consultancy agreement with Suntory for over 20 years. We have been aware and comfortable with that since he joined the RFU," an RFU statement read.

"He provides consultancy in his holidays and this role is in no way a conflict with his England team priorities."