RFU chairman angry over Ashton attacks

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Head coach Ashton has come under fire from senior players such as Lawrence Dallaglio and Mike Catt for his management style during England's defence of the Webb Ellis Cup.

RFU chairman Martyn Thomas said: "I think it is absolutely disgraceful. This has tarnished a great achievement."

Despite England's remarkable resurgence at the tournament that saw them reach the final, it has been the players rather than Ashton who have attempted to take credit for the turnaround.

When England won the World Cup in 2003, head coach Sir Clive Woodward had player columns and interviews closely monitored.

He went even further when he took charge of the Lions tour to New Zealand in 2005, preventing players and staff giving interviews or publishing any tour diaries or autobiographies until six months after the trip.

Thomas is determined to enforce similar rules, saying: "Any clause we introduce will apply to major tours and major tournaments, but within the confines of the law.

"We can't become censors. We have freedom of speech. I have already put a call in to the RFU legal officer, Karena Vleck, and we will discuss it, and I will raise it at the management board meeting.

"I am sure that (director of elite rugby) Rob Andrew and chief executive Francis Baron will raise it as well."