Woodward, who resigned as England coach on Thursday, revealed he remains 100 per cent committed to the British Isles team after Lions chief executive John Feehan warned the 48-year-old that nothing should interfere with preparations for the tour.

The World Cup-winning coach, who also confirmed he will work towards claiming a coaching badge in soccer, claimed he had not been able to take the England team forward in the way he wanted since Novembers last-minute victory over Australia in Sydney.

He will oversee the three Tests against the All Blacks on June 25, July 2 and 9 before quitting the sport.

I am 100 per cent committed to the Lions, Woodward told a press conference at Twickenham. My commitment to them is absolute. I am taking no job from anyone until that is finished.

I am moving on for the right reasons. There is no job in rugby I would go to or any international team I would want to coach.

I will be leaving rugby at end of the Lions tour.

The Lions is going to be fantastic. I want to work with the Welsh, the Irish, the Scots. That is what I intend to do. I will be taking up no other employment until then. This season is about the Lions and nothing else.

As for a possible move into football, Woodward confirmed he had been talking to Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe but would have to start right at the bottom.

He also wants to talk to other clubs about coaching in the game.

I have applied to do the FA grade two coaching job but I havent applied for the England job! I am not stupid. You only get put in positions after time. In terms of football I am a million miles off that.

I think I have a tremendous amount to learn from football. It is a new challenge but I have to start right at the bottom. Im not sure where I will end up but it is something I am looking forward to.

I have been talking to Rupert Lowe for a long time. He contacted me a couple of years ago. There have been links between our sport but certainly Im not involved in anything to do with the first team.

Ive had one or two job offers in other sports and I have learned a lot in this job.
If there is spare time [building up towards the Lions tour] I will pursue other bits and pieces but I will take no paid position until the tour is over.

Woodward emphasised he has not been offered a job in football.

No role has been offered to me. We are a year away from me moving into the next phase of my career. I intend to do the coaching award and go on from there."