Former New Zealand World Cup-winning assistant coach Wayne Smith has been approached by the RFU over the vacant England manager's job.

The role has been available after Martin Johnson's resignation last month.

"I'd like to coach test match rugby again," said Smith. "My preference would be to be head coach but the environment we had with the All Blacks meant you were like a head coach because you had that accountability."

Th 54-year-old recently worked alongside another candidate, Nick Mallett, for last weekend's Help for Heroes match at Twickenham.