An investigation has been launched to discover the source of the leak of three reports into England's World Cup fiasco.
Rugby bosses to investigate confidentiality breach
An investigation has been launched to discover the source of the leak of three reports into England's World Cup fiasco.
The confidential reviews by the Rugby Football Union (RFU), the Rugby Players' Association and the Aviva Premiership clubs have heaped public shame on the nation's rugby elite after they were published in
The Times newspaper on Wednesday.
Quotes from unnamed players and RFU elite rugby director Rob Andrew paint a damning picture of a divided squad, obsessed with money and with little trust in Martin Johnson's management team.
Publication of the reports has seen a number of figures, including 2003 World Cup hero Jason Robinson and sports minister Hugh Robertson, call for immediate and large-scale changes in the way the game is run.
But on Wednesday evening the RFU announced that it would launch an investigation to find out who had allowed the reports to enter into the public domain.
The RFU's disciplinary chief Judge Jeff Blackett is set to appoint an independent investigator to take charge of the inquiry and deliver his findings within two weeks.
An RFU statement read: "Following today's serious breach of confidentiality regarding Rugby World Cup reports to the Professional Game Board, the Rugby Football Union will investigate fully and, if appropriate, take disciplinary action.
"The investigation will be carried out expediently by an independent external firm."
The Professional Game Board is currently drawing a set of conclusions from all three reports, with the aim of making some recommendations to the RFU board on November 30.
