The English coach will even head up the Black Lion staff
Richard Cockerill has been named as the brand new head coach of the Georgian nationwide staff, taking the helm forward of the Rugby Europe Championship kicking off.
With a presentation in Tbilisi, it was unveiled that Cockerill will even take cost of the Black Lion aspect, who’re at present competing within the European Problem Cup. The franchise – made up of Georgia expertise primarily based within the nation – had been additionally victorious within the Rugby Europe Tremendous Cup, their win over Tel Aviv Warmth netting them back-to-back titles.
Former Leicester Tigers, Clermont and England hooker Cockerill has been out of a job since parting methods with Montpellier halfway by this season. Earlier than that, he served as an England assistant coach, and briefly held the submit of interim boss between the Eddie Jones and Steve Borthwick regimes.
It is Official 🏉 | Richard Cockerill, ex @RCTofficiel @MHR_officiel, @EdinburghRugby coach and Former @EnglandRugby Worldwide and forwards coach, joined @GeorgianRugby as The Lelos and @BlackLionRugby Head Coach 🏉 pic.twitter.com/YLKUvQQzcF
— Georgian Rugby (@GeorgianRugby) January 18, 2024
Cockerill was director of rugby at Leicester Tiger between 2009 and 2017, in addition to teaching stints with Toulon and Edinburgh.
Georgia start their Rugby Europe Championship marketing campaign away to Germany on 4 February.
The problem dealing with Richard Cockerill in Georgia
The Georgians are extremely formidable.
For years now they’ve demanded a rise quantity of matches towards higher-tier nationwide sides, as properly calling for adjustments to the Six Nations. They’re the dominant drive within the Rugby Europe Championship and their youth set-up is rising in energy.
Nonetheless, that they had a disastrous Rugby world Cup in France, with solely a draw towards acquainted foes Portugal, and three defeats to their identify in Pool C. Cockerill’s job might be to steer Georgia again to the shape that noticed them overcome Wales in 2022, and that has made them an obstinate opponent in earlier World Cups.
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