Leicester Promote Cockerill
Leicester Tigers have promoted Richard Cockerill to the position of Director of Rugby ahead of the new Premiership season.
Cockerill moves up to the position after some speculation that suggested he could have been on his way out of the club. However, this deal has seen him sign a long-term contract and he will now work with all areas of the club.
Cockerill is a very respected figure in the rugby world and very few will be surprised that he has managed to negotiate a long-term role with the club he loves.
There are benefits for the club and for the coach and these should make Leicester a much more solid club when the new domestic season starts. They will be trying harder than ever to retain their Premiership crown and Cockerill will help this.
The Club
It is very clear that all players and other staff at Leicester respect Cockerill a great deal. He is a very popular man and someone who can be approached over many things that don't relate to rugby. The fact he's now staying on will create a general lift around the club.
The club know they have signed someone with a good deal of experience. This means they will not have to start the long job of searching for a coach who could have done the role and they have saved themselves a great deal of time.
Chairman Peter Tom said: "There is no doubt that Richard and Matt have forged an excellent relationship as a coaching team and we are delighted they have agreed new contracts with the club."
The Coach
Cockerill will be lifted in the respect that he will not have to go and fit in at a new club. He has already spent a great deal of time with Leicester and will know everything there is to know about the club. He will know how the club operates and how the infrastructure works. Joining a new club would have meant learning about all of these things again.
At this moment in time he will have a great deal of ambition to do well in his new role. It may be something that he wasn't expecting and this will make him determined to do very well. Leicester are the Premiership champions and it's important that their DOR has a great deal of drive and ambition.
Tom added: "Cockers and Matt will be the first to thank the backroom staff and entire playing squad for what the club has achieved in the last couple of seasons, but they provide valuable leadership in their senior roles and drive the whole process. As everyone knows, Cockers is Leicester Tigers through and through."
Betting Advice
Leicester would have formed a very strong unit next season had Cockerill not signed on at the club. They have a very attacking and young side that looks as though they will do will for the next few years.
The Director of Rugby position is very important at any club and Cockerill will only help in eradicating any weaknesses that Leicester have as a team and club. It's important to remember that he is a coach first of all and anything else after.
You can bet confidently that Leicester will retain their Premiership crown next season. There will be challenges from a variety of other clubs but they are still as good as anyone else in the league. Cockerill has the ability to put drive and ambition behind the club and this will make them a solid outfit to back ahead of the new campaign.
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