England's World Cup winning captain Martin Johnson has ruled out a role with the national team until he first gains experience with a lower level team.

Following England's early difficulties at the recent World Cup there have been calls for a manager to work alongside current coach Brian Ashton, with many suggesting Johnson and his renowned non-nonsense approach was the answer.

But Johnson, considered one of the finest captains in rugby history, insists he would first need to learn about coaching and management before he even considered a position with England

"If I ever got involved as manager of England then I'd want to do it with a bit of experience behind me," Johnson said.

"This is not the right time for me. If Rob were to call me now then I'd tell him the same thing. There's a perception that I'll turn up and everything will be all right.

"When things are going badly for England the coaches will not tell the players anything different to what I'd tell them.

"People are assuming I could walk back in - but it doesn't work like that. There's nothing to say that, because you've played at the top level you'll make a good coach or manager.

"I would never be arrogant enough to presume I could be a national team coach or manager without any experience."

"But if I wanted to get involved in coaching I wouldn't go straight in at international level. I'd try and get some coaching experience first."

The 37-year-old has enjoyed a lucrative career in the media and on the corporate circuit since retiring from the game at the end of the 2004 season.

He added that the time was not yet right for him to get involved with the game again, but he did not rule out a return in the future.

"You've got to have the passion to want to get involved - there's no point doing it half-heartedly," ha added.

"When I get that feeling I'll look at getting involved. Coaching is a difficult job. I got involved in the game to play, and that's what I enjoyed doing.

"I didn't get involved with the long-term view of being a coach at any stage."

Terence O'Rorke / Eurosport