Ashton rejects national academy role

LONDON (Reuters) - Former head coach Brian Ashton, dismissed after steering England to second place in the World Cup and Six Nations, has turned down the top job at the national academy, the Rugby Football Union (RFU) said on Thursday.

The RFU said on their website (www.rfu.com) that Ashton, who was removed from the top job in April to make way for former captain Martin Johnson as manager, would instead provide the English game's governing body with consultancy services.

"I have decided not to accept the post offered to me by the RFU ... as this was a full time post which would not have allowed me to develop my own business and pursue other interests," said Ashton, who is setting up his own consultancy company.

Ashton, 61, took over from Andy Robinson in December 2006 with England at a low ebb. He failed to produce consistent levels of performance, with the team swinging erratically between good results and humiliating defeats.

(Reporting by Sarah Marsh, editing by Rex Gowar)