Martin Johnson quits as England rugby coach

The former captain is understood to have informed the Rugby Football Union of his decision ahead of Thursday’s Professional Game Board (PGB) review into England’s World Cup quarter-final exit.

Johnson was also under pressure during last week’s management review, which decided to throw Mike Tindall out of England’s elite player squad over his conduct during the tournament in New Zealand in September.

Tindall, who is married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Phillips, was fined £25,000 for his behaviour during a night out in a bar in Queenstown.

Chris Ashton and James Haskell were also reprimanded and given suspended £5,000 fines after making inappropriate comments to a female hotel worker, while Manu Tuilagi was fined £3,000 for jumping off a ferry into Auckland harbour, attracting the attention of the police.

A dysfunctional gamble by the RFU

Watching the press conference given by Martin Johnson on Wednesday, it is hard not to get the impression he jumped before he was pushed, writes Channel 4 News Programme Editor Ben Monro-Davies.

He said twice he knew he was making a choice now - a choice that might have been taken out of his hands in a few weeks. And when asked whether Johnson would have been sacked, RFU boss Rob Andrew refused to answer.

Much of the questioning focused on whether the off-field antics of various members of the England team, especially those with royal connections, had influenced his decision to go. But Johnson refused to dwell on players jumping off ferries. He wasn't thrilled about it, but played down its impact on England's on-the-field performance.

And that's where Johnson was fatally wounded. England didn't just fail to progress beyond their quarter finals. They were awful in every game. Scotland were knocked out in the group stages, but left the other side of the world with more plaudits for their play than Johnson's men.

And taking the long view, was it really sensible to give someone with no coaching experience whatsoever the England job? Imagine the incredulity if the FA announced David Beckham as the new England manager?

Johnson's appointment in 2008 was a massive gamble by an RFU that has now been revealed to be truly dysfunctional. Can there be much hope that Twickenham plc - currently without a chief executive - will get it right this time?

On the field, the team attracted criticism after a series of lacklustre performances ending in quarter-final defeat to France.

The PGB, which oversees the professional game in England, said the review on Thursday will look into the team’s preparation, performance and behaviour during the tournament.

Chairman Ian Metcalfe promised: “It will be the most comprehensive review ever undertaken of an England tournament performance.”

He also said the effectiveness of Martin Johnson and his management will be under the microscope.