'I won't quit' says Andrew

Rob Andrew has insisted he will not resign as elite rugby director in the wake of England's miserable tour of New Zealand.

Rob Andrew has insisted he will not resign as elite rugby director in the wake of England's miserable tour of New Zealand.

England lost the Test series 2-0 but the rugby was overshadowed by an allegation of serious sexual assault made against four of the squad in New Zealand.

The players deny any wrongdoing and have declined to be interviewed by police on the grounds that no formal complaint has been made.

Police have confirmed the whole England squad are free to leave New Zealand as scheduled later on Sunday.

Andrew was leading the tour in a caretaker capacity before Martin Johnson takes over as the new England team manager on July 1.

Andrew's day job puts him in charge of English rugby's elite department at Twickenham – and he vowed to continue performing that role.

“I am not going to consider my position,” he said.

“I am going to carry on doing the work that I am doing at the union.

“I am going to carry on with my position as the elite rugby director of the RFU.”

Andrew declined to comment on any potential disciplinary action or whether England would be prepared to include the players under investigation in the elite squad for next season.

“We will have to look at all of those issues in the context of an ongoing police enquiry,” said Andrew.

“We will have to look at other issues when we know the outcome of that. We cannot comment on any other aspects of disciplinary action, or whatever, whilst this is on-going.”

The England players did not break any official code of conduct by staying out late after the 37-20 first Test defeat in Auckland last weekend.

But RFU chief executive Francis Baron confirmed this week England would consider banning players from bringing women back to the team hotel.

Security guards were positioned on the players' floors at the team hotel in Christchurch.

England lost the second Test yesterday 44-12.

Asked whether he would take the blame for England's failings on the field in recent months, Andrew said: “If you are going to go down the blame game, then absolutely not.

“We have had to deal with some very difficult situations over the last 12 months.

“The World Cup squad, as we all know, was built on experience. Since then, we have had retirements, injuries and a next generation coming through.

“We have to reflect on what we have learned on this tour.”