Danny Cipriani and Mike Catt row confirmed

According to the RFU, a "robust conversation" took place between the two when Cipriani failed to take a full part in a training drill.

The incident is thought to have taken place the day before England's 31-man World Cup squad was named - in which Cipriani did not feature.

However, English rugby's governing body insist the row did not lead to Cipriani being overlooked.

"Danny and Mike were involved in a robust conversation on the training pitch following a misunderstanding around a training drill instruction," an RFU spokesman said.

"Mike's only intention was only to get the best of the player as he does for all of the players. Both shook hands afterwards and the incident played no bearing on selection."

England were knocked out of the 2015 World Cup in the pool stage, the first host to be eliminated that early in the history of the competition.