Ex-England rugby coach Stuart Lancaster joins Irish side Leinster

Former England coach Stuart Lancaster has joined Leinster as a member of their senior coaching team, the Irish provincial side announced on Monday.

The 46-year-old, who stepped down as England boss last November after the team's dismal World Cup showing, has joined the three-time European Cup winners until the end of the season.

Leinster turned to Lancaster after defence coach Kurt McQuilkin left the province's coaching staff this summer to return to New Zealand for family reasons.

"Stuart brings a wealth of experience and is a highly respected figure in world rugby. We are all looking forward to having Stuart join our team and together helping the players maximise their potential as a group," Leinster head coach Leo Cullen told leinsterrugby.ie.

Lancaster's four-year stint in charge of England came to an end after the Red Rose became the first World Cup host nation to fail to get out of the pool stages, following defeats to Wales and Australia.

Since leaving that post, the former Leeds Tykes player has had short-term roles at NFL side the Atlanta Falcons, British Cycling, the Football Association and in New Zealand rugby with Counties Manukau.

At Leinster, Lancaster will join a coaching team that consists of head coach Cullen plus his assistants Girvan Dempsey and John Fogarty.

Leinster face Glasgow in the second round of the Celtic League on Saturday, having began their campaign with a 20-8 victory over Treviso on Friday. Leinster have reached the final of the Celtic League nine times in its 15-year history, winning four.

Source: AFP