Sir Clive Woodward launches stinging attack on ‘arrogant’ RFU over Sam Burgess fiasco

Sir Clive Woodward has blasted RFU chiefs over the Sam Burgess 'mess' and accused them of making England the 'laughing stock of world rugby'.

The World Cup-winning coach believes Burgess has been badly let down by union bosses after he decided to quit Bath and return to rugby league just a year after crossing codes.

Burgess, who won five caps for England under Stuart Lancaster, is heading back to Australia to rejoin brothers George and Tom at the South Sydney Rabbitohs in time for the start of next year's NRL campaign.

Woodward, writing in the Daily Mail, claims the fiasco surrounding the 26-year-old is the latest in a long list of errors by the RFU, whom he holds completely responsible for England's failed World Cup campaign.

 "I said last week that Sam Burgess is not to blame for this mess and I stand by it," said Woodward.

"But with his return to rugby league we've reached one of the all-time lows and most embarrassing points in English rugby history.

"The RFU has spent the last four years congratulating itself on the direction in which we're heading, but the truth is we have marched confidently into a total mess. The review after the 2011 World Cup was a shambles.

"Players and coaches let down by media leaks, good men exposed as scapegoats and lesser men hiding and shirking responsibility. Nothing has changed."

He added: "We are the laughing stock of not only world rugby but also sport and business. The rest of the world says those involved in English rugby are arrogant. I hate this reputation, but that is exactly what the RFU have been."