Tigers bring Blake back as their defence coach

LEICESTER Tigers have appointed former Rugby League player Phil Blake as defence coach, as forcast by

The Rugby Paper two weeks ago, The 55-year-old Londonborn Australian was initially appointed as defence coach at Welford Road in 2014.

He left in April 2015 shortly before a six-month ban from rugby for a breach of RFU betting rules. He placed eight separate bets on two Tigers games while he was coaching at the club.

Blake, who turned out for Manly, Warrington, South Sydney, Wigan, North Sydney Bears, Canberra Raiders, St George Dragons and Auckland Warriors as a player, turned to Union in a coaching capacity in 2006. After becoming defence coach for the Australian team, he moved back to England to join Leicester under Richard Cockerill in 2014, since when he has also worked for Wasps.