England axe Ford and Wells after rugby World Cup flop

Former England assistant coaches Mike Ford and John Wells are to leave the Rugby Football Union (RFU) with immediate effect, the governing body announced Wednesday. Defence coach Ford and forwards chief Wells reached an agreement with the RFU after they lost their roles with the England team following the side's World Cup quarter-final defeat by France in New Zealand in October. Ford and Wells had held their posts since 2006, coaching England through two World Cup tournaments. Acting RFU chief executive Stephen Brown said: "John and Mike have given great service to England and rugby in this country over many years and their contribution is appreciated. "On behalf of the RFU I would like to wish them well in the next stages of their careers." England team manager Martin Johnson and attack coach Brian Smith had already resigned following a World Cup campaign marred by incidents of alcohol-fuelled misbehaviour off the pitch. Several leaked reports into England's performance painted a damning picture of a divided squad containing greedy players who were led by a coaching staff unable to impose discipline and lacking rugby skills compared to their rivals. Earlier this month, Stuart Lancaster, formerly boss of the reserve England Saxons, was installed as interim coach for England's Six Nations title defence which starts in February. The RFU also announced Lancaster's assistants would be scrum coach Graham Rowntree -- one of the few members of England's backroom staff who came through the World Cup with their reputation unscathed -- and former Test centre Andy Farrell. That move immediately placed a question mark against the England future of both Ford and Wells.