England coaches under investigation

Editor

The England coaching staff have been accused of breaching match-day communications protocol, following their 13-33 defeat against Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.

England became the first host nation to be eliminated from the tournament before the quarter-final stage on Saturday and the entire management team has since been the subject of considerable scrutiny. 

The latest developments place them under further scrutiny, albeit for different reasons, during what is one of the more difficult periods in England rugby history.

"World Rugby is investigating an alleged breach by the England coaching team of the match-day communications protocol between match officials and team members or union officials during the Rugby World Cup 2015 Pool A match between England and Australia at Twickenham on 3 October," read a statement released by World Rugby on Monday.

"The protocol prohibits certain conduct on match days including coaches approaching match officials during a match or at half-time during a match," continued the statement. 

The statement does not create any clarity on which member of the coaching staff might have committed the infraction.