RFU hit back at Andrew blast

The Rugby Football Union have defended their position on age-group international rugby following Rob Andrew's blast that England's commitment is an "utterly pointless and an astronomical waste of money".

Rob Andrew: Has sparked a row with the RFU

Andrew was furious with the RFU after England under-21 medics failed to spot Newcastle prop David Wilson had suffered a fractured jaw in Friday's victory over Ireland.

The Newcastle boss claimed the episode was "symptomatic of age-group rugby in this country" and questioned the benefit of even having junior sides when young players get better exposure in the Guinness Premiership.

The RFU's performance director Chris Spice confirmed England are attempting to restructure age-group competitions - but he stood by the union's commitment to international teams below Test level.

"The Guinness Premiership is a fantastic environment to develop players but it does not replicate the intensity of, or preparation for, a Test match," Spice explained.

"Age group as well as 'A' team and Sevens representative rugby is beneficial to player development because it poses a different challenge to the daily routine of club rugby and mirrors what happens at senior level.

"However, the format of representative rugby is being reviewed and we are talking with our RBS Six Nations colleagues about restructuring the under-18, 19 and 21 levels to under-18 and under-20 teams."

Spice has spent the last week in Melbourne watching Mathew Tait's re-emergence on the international scene as the England Sevens side won silver at the Commonwealth Games.

And while the senior Test side is malfunctioning and the A team were beaten heavily by Ireland at the weekend, the England under-21s won their own Six Nations Grand Slam.