A single department will be responsible for all rugby elements of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) following a "significant" restructuring process of the organisation.

The department will be divided into three areas - performance, operations and development - and will feature new director roles reporting to RFU chief executive officer John Steele. It is hoped that the restructuring process will help improve the quality of the game from elite level down to the grassroots across the country.

A number of positions have been abolished in the shake-up, including community rugby director; tournaments and competitions director; and head of planning. Meanwhile, two new roles are to be created - a chief commercial officer to be responsible for all revenue generating elements of the RFU and a chief financial officer.

Steele said: "I have spent the last few months gathering insight and views on how the RFU could better serve the game. "The new structure puts rugby right at the centre of the business and seeks to create more rugby expertise to benefit all levels of the game."