Former New Zealand assistant coach Wayne Smith has ruled himself out of the running to become the permanent England head coach.

Smith, who is contracted with the Waikato Chiefs until September, has claimed that he would not be able reach the RFU's requirement to take the job in June.

"I'm interested in talking to them down the track if it fits in," said Smith, who helped the All Blacks win last year's World Cup.

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

Interim coach Stuart Lancaster has already applied for the position, while Nick Mallett and Jim Mallinder are also in contention.

Martin Johnson resigned in November after England's poor World Cup campaign.

Written by
Jack Prescott