Cockerill leaves Tigers with immediate effect

Richard Cockerill is to leave his position as director of rugby at Leicester Tigers with immediate effect.

A former Tigers and England hooker, Cockerill has been on the coaching staff at Tigers since 2004, becoming director of rugby in 2010.
 
Cockerill said: "It is with great sadness and regret that I leave my position as director of rugby with immediate effect. I still believe that I am the right person to lead the team at this present time but respect the Board's decision to make change as they see fit in the best interests of the club.
 
"I wish to thank the club and in particular Simon Cohen and Peter Tom for giving me the opportunity to lead this great club and the support they have given me in the last seven years.
 
"I arrived back at the club in 2004 as an academy coach and leave as DOR with a record that speaks for itself and stands up against any in club rugby in the world.
 
"This club has made me the person and the coach I am today and I will never forget what they have done for me.
 
"I wish Tom Youngs and the team the very best for the future and will miss being part of the Tigers Family.”
 
Cockerill joined the club as a player in 1992 and became a member of the 'ABC Club' front row with Graham Rowntree and Darren Garforth, making 262 appearances, winning five league titles, two domestic cups and back-to-back European Cups. He also earned 27 caps for England.
 
After two years with Montferrand in France, Cockerill returned to Leicester for a second spell as a player and joined the coaching staff, initially with the academy. He worked as forwards coach and twice as interim head coach before being named head coach as Tigers won the Premiership title and reached the European Cup Final in 2009.
 
Tigers retained the Premiership crown in 2010 and Cockerill became director of rugby in July that year. The team reached the Premiership Final again in 2011 and 2012, as well as winning the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 2011/12, and the team collected a record 10th league title with victory in May 2013.
 
Tigers chairman Peter Tom CBE said: "We thank Richard for his loyal and dedicated service as a player, coach and director of rugby. He has a great passion for the club and for the game of rugby, and has shared in many massive occasions with the Tigers.
 
"The club always has aspirations to contest the major honours in the game and that remains unchanged but the board believes this is the right time to make a change.”
 
Tigers head coach Aaron Mauger will be in interim charge of team affairs working with coaches Richard Blaze and Geordan Murphy and the existing support staff.
 
The Board will also conduct a review of the coaching structure to determine an appropriate way forward.
 
The club will not comment any further at this stage.