Ex-New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith rules out England role

Smith was part of the All Blacks World Cup winning set-up

Former New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has ruled himself out of the running to be England's new head coach.

Smith, who helped the All Blacks win the 2011 World Cup, said the timing was not right given his Waikato Chiefs job.

Smith is contracted until at least September, with the Rugby Football Union keen to make an appointment before the June tour to South Africa.

"I'm interested in talking to them down the track if it fits in," said Smith.

"I want to coach at that level again and that's a team [England] that has got a fair bit of potential. But this opportunity just didn't fit in with me."

Interim coach Stuart Lancaster has confirmed he has already applied to replace Martin Johnson permanently., while former South Africa and Italy coach Nick Mallett, and Northampton director of rugby Jim Mallinder are believed to be contenders.

Johnson resigned from the job last November following England's disastrous World Cup campaign.

The Rugby Football Union has taken the unusual step of hiring a City recruitment firm to find the right man for the revamped role.

The governing body wants to increase accountability in a bid to avoid England's dismal performance on and off the pitch in last year's World Cup.

But Smith told New Zealand newspaper the Dominion Post: "The job description was waffly and looked like it was for the head of a PR company rather than a rugby coach."