2. Eddie Jones
Former England head coach Eddie Jones hasn’t been shy about his disdain for Woodward. Their rivalry stretches back to when Jones was coaching Australia and Woodward was in charge of England. However, it deepened during Jones’ tenure with the England national team.
“He hasn’t coached since 2005 and he’s the ‘world’s best coach’. You’re the world’s best coach when you don’t coach,” Jones told James Graham’s The Bye Round podcast.
Jones also revealed a behind-the-scenes power struggle, claiming Woodward lobbied for a position as England’s director of rugby after the 2019 Rugby World Cup. “He did it behind my back, and I thought it was quite sneaky and deceitful,” Jones said.
3. Austin Healey
Despite sharing the glory of England’s 2003 World Cup win, Austin Healey’s relationship with Woodward soured during the tournament. Healey was flown out to Australia as injury cover, but when the injured players recovered, he was never officially added to the squad. This meant Healey missed out on a World Cup winner’s medal despite travelling to Australia.
Though Healey hasn’t been as vocal as others, his exclusion left a bitter taste, with many believing the versatile back deserved more recognition for his involvement.