The RFU is currently looking for a head of athletic performance to work alongside the current set-up but Ritchie was quick to distance Woodward from a return to Twickenham.

“We don't have any vacancies,” Ritchie said. “I respect totally what Clive did in rugby and the Olympics, but I am not going to get into hypotheticals.

“I am very happy with the way things are progressing at the moment.”

At present the RFU is conducting a review into their performance department but Ritchie insists neither that, nor Woodward’s departure from the BOA, places Rob Andrew’s job as professional rugby director under threat.

"Is this a shorthand for 'what does it mean for Rob Andrew?' Certainly not,” added Ritchie. “Rob has been involved in this process and supportive of it. He has great expertise.

“We should be aiming in the next three years to be giving the best possible support to the England players and the England team at all the age levels and that is fundamentally what the review is about.”