Hewat is heading back to Australia for two weeks (Getty)

London Irish full-back Peter Hewat will support Brian Smith if the Exiles coach joins the England staff.

Smith is expected to join Martin Johnson's team despite having one year left on his contract with the Exiles.

Hewat, 30, told BBC Radio Berkshire: "Players want to play and coaches want to coach at the highest level.

"If they want him badly enough, I wouldn't like to stand in his way. It would be great for him to get the job, but I'd hate to see him go."

Hewat added: "But you can't be selfish about these things. We'll find out over the next couple of weeks.

"If he does decide to move on, then we'll support him, but it would be great to see him stay."

Hewat added that, if Smith does leave London Irish, promoting forwards coach Toby Booth and player-coach Mike Catt would have the support of the players.

I'm sure [Toby Booth and Mike Catt] would continue with the legacy set up by Brian, in terms of running rugby London Irish full-back Peter Hewat

"It would be great for those guys to step up. Brian's obviously moulded them well and I'm sure they'd bring their own ideas.

"I don't have a lot to do with Boothy as he's usually with the forwards, but from what I've seen, he's an awesome coach and he likes to try things.

"Catty's got great vision, so I'm sure they would continue with the legacy set up by Brian, in terms of running rugby."

Hewat, who played for the Barbarians against Ireland at Kingsholm on Tuesday now heads home to Australia for a holiday before pre-season training begins for Irish in June.

He added: "I'm not going to look at a rugby ball, I'll be having a good couple of weeks off.

"It's been a long season with the two back-to-back, so I'm going home to see family and friends, before coming back refreshed and ready to rip into another season for Irish."