Brian Ashton is looking forward to leading England to the 2011 Rugby World Cup after being reappointed as national team coach on an indefinite contract.

"I feel very proud and am looking forward to getting on with it," Ashton said on Thursday, a day after the RFU confirmed his appointment.

Ashton guided England to a surprising run at the World Cup in October, upsetting Australia and France before losing to South Africa in the final.

"I look at the way forward in three stages," he said.

"In 2008 there is the Six Nations and the New Zealand tour, the next period is to the end of the 2009 Argentina tour and then we ought to be in a good position to move forward to the 2011 World Cup.

"There are short, medium and long-term objectives over the next four years."

RFU's rugby director Rob Andrew said Ashton was given a "rolling" contract with no time limit.

"He might be here in 2015," he said.

"It has a notice period, like all contracts have."

Ashton and Andrew will work together to assemble a coaching team, which could include a manager.

"It could still happen," Andrew said.

"We have got quite a lot Brian and I need to fill in moving forward. This is not the end of the decision-making process, it is just the start."

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