Cockerill to leave England coaching role after Six Nations

LONDON (AP) — Richard Cockerill will leave England’s coaching staff to join French rugby club Montpellier, a departure that ends all ties to Eddie Jones’ era in charge of the national team.

Since Steve Borthwick replaced Jones as head coach, members of the Australian’s backroom staff — Matt Proudfoot, Brett Hodgson, Martin Gleeson — have left one by one and Cockerill is the last to go.

Cockerill, a former England front-row forward, was interim coach following Jones’ departure and the arrival of Borthwick. He will continue as forwards coach throughout the Six Nations, England said on Tuesday, before joining Montpellier to take up the same role.

“Having coached and played in France previously, my family and I always had aspirations to return,” Cockerill said. “This opportunity presented itself some time ago and it was too hard to turn down personally and professionally.

“It is disappointing not to work with Steve and the wider team beyond the Six Nations. I had hoped to be able stay for the Rugby World Cup, but the timings weren’t meant to be.”

England’s Rugby Football Union announced later Tuesday that Richard Wigglesworth and Aled Walters will join the coaching set-up from Leicester Tigers at the end of the domestic season.

Wigglesworth, who will be assistant coach, played 33 times for England and represented the country at the Rugby World Cups in 2011 and 2015.

Walters will be the head of strength and conditioning.

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