Andrew has much to ponder as he prepares to take on his new role

The former England fly-half will oversee all representative rugby from regional academies to the senior side.

He will also assist England head coach Andy Robinson with team selection, and try to come up with a lasting solution to the club versus country conflict.

So has the RFU got the right man, and what strengths will he bring? BBC Sport sought opinion from the experts.

Rob seemed so adamant at the end of last season that it was a job he wouldn't even consider because he was up to his neck in Newcastle business, so from that point of view I am surprised he has taken it.

But everybody has to have ambition in life and the chance has come up to become the supremo of English rugby.

Hopefully Rob can sort out the horrible mess that is English rugby

Rob has put his head on the chopping block but it is not the first time he has done that.

He went to Newcastle when nobody knew anything about them but won promotion to the Premiership and then the league title, even if he has not had a lot of success since.

But I don't want to be negative about his appointment - I wish Rob the best of luck. Hopefully he can sort out the horrible mess that is English rugby.

You can be a political animal off the pitch but there is no hiding place on it. As a player Rob let very few people run through him and rarely let England down.

If he brings the same commitment to this job, he will succeed.

I think it is an excellent move. It is the biggest role in English rugby and while he might not be the one in the direct spotlight, his is probably more important in the long term.

How will Robinson react to Andrew's involvement in selection?

I think it will help with the selection process for England, which is one of the things that has been poor in the last year or so.

Rob has been critical of [head coach] Andy Robinson's selections before and I am sure he will make his feelings known to him in private. He has to - that is part of his job now.

He is a very encouraging guy, but when he needs to be firm, he is quite capable of it and doesn't shy away from taking responsibility and making decisions.

He wouldn't have survived at Newcastle for so long if he didn't have that steely edge to him.

The RFU has got a very passionate English rugby man and I think he'll do a great job.

Clive Woodward achieved the ultimate prize and I'm suprised he put himself up for it, but one of England's problems in recent years has been looking back to the World Cup.

When it came to the crunch you knew that Rob would front up

The great news is we have a new, younger guy with fresh ideas, and that is certainly what the senior England players are crying out for.

Everyone will tell you he is such a nice guy, and he is off the pitch, but he wasn't on the pitch!

He was one of the most competitive guys I ever played with or against. What I really loved about him was when it came to the crunch you knew that Rob would front up.

I think he will bring that to England. He has a very competitive edge to him and he wants to win.

He is also a shrewd judge and developer of young players. England are crying out for consistency of selection and greater fluidity, and Rob will bring that stabilising influence.