Former England hooker and forwards coach Richard Cockerill has been appointed head coach of Georgia and their domestic side Black Lion.
Cockerill, 53, was part of England’s coaching staff under Eddie Jones and led the team on an interim basis when the Australian was sacked in 2022.
He guided Leicester to three titles – in 2007, 2009 and 2010 – and has also led Toulon, Edinburgh and Montpellier.
Georgia are ranked 14th in the world but had a poor World Cup last year.
They finished bottom of Pool C at the tournament in France, drawing against Portugal and losing their other three pool games.
Cockerill’s first game in charge will be against Germany in the Rugby Europe Championship 2024 Finals on 4 February.
Black Lion play in the Rugby Europe Super Cup, which is the third tier of continental competition underneath the Champions Cup and Challenge Cup.
The former hooker made 27 appearances for England between 1997 and 1999 and was a stalwart of the Leicester team in the 1990s.
