NEWS EXTRA
Ben Woods' time as head coach of Tynedale is coming to an end because the RFU insist that his full-time job as a player agent represents a conflict of interest.
The RFU have told the former Premiership flanker that he is in breach of Regulation 8.5.13 (g), which bars any player agent from being an official, employee or contracted party at any professional/semi-professional club.
Previously this regulation would not have applied to an amateur outfit like Tynedale, but it has been re-worded to include all men's National League clubs and above and clubs in the Women's Premiership regardless of whether they pay players or not.
Woods, 41, played over 100 Premiership games for Newcastle and Leicester, winning two league titles with Tigers, before retiring through injury in 2012.
He has been involved in representing pro rugby players for the past decade alongside his extensive grassroots coaching career and currently works with stellar talents such as Adam Radwan as head of rugby at the Quantum Sport agency.
“It's frustrating that they've done this because it has no effect on anything I do at Tynedale, we're a grassroots, amateur rugby club, from top to bottom. So, it seems crazy that they (the RFU) would be in the business of stopping someone who wants to give back to the game,” said Woods.
“The only possible conflict of interest is if we get dual reg players from Newcastle and we don't pick them for non-rugby reasons, but selection isn't done by just me, it is done by everybody and it is patently obvious when it isn't done in the best interests of the club.”
Woods was appointed as Tynedale's DoR in 2018 but has been head coach since the start of the 2022/23 season, when club legend Pete Southern became part of the management team and took on a lot of the administrative duties.
Tynedale have punched well above their weight this season and were sixth going into this weekend's game against Hull. However, much to his frustration, this will be Woods' last season in charge.
