Richard Cockerill loving life at Top 14 side Toulon

By Charlotte Bates

Image: Richard Cockerill is embracing life at Toulon

Former Leicester Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill insists he is loving every minute of his new role with the French side Toulon.

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Cockerill joined three-time European Cup winner Toulon as a consultant to head coach Mike Ford until the end of the Top 14 season just days after leaving Leicester.

An England hooker during his playing days, Cockerill was rugby director at Welford Road for six years until he was dismissed three weeks ago, with the Tigers fifth in the table but 15 points behind leaders Wasps.
The 46-year-old helped his new club to qualify for the quarter-finals of the European Rugby Champions Cup last weekend.

Toulon will face fellow French side ASM Clermont Auvergne in the last eight - a tie Cockerill is looking forward to.
Image: Mike Ford was keen to bring Cockerill to Toulon
"It's very different and the polar opposite of Leicester in many ways," Cockerill told the BBC. "I'm going to enjoy it and put everything into it.

"It's a privilege to coach a side with the names on this team-sheet, working with them day in, day out.

"I've coached against them and I have always thought it was a bit of an odd set-up. But now I am in the middle of it you sort of understand where they are coming from."
Image: Bryan Habana won the World Cup with South Africa in 2007
Cockerill is embracing the opportunity to work with Toulon's extensive squad, which includes seasoned internationals such as Australia's Matt Giteau, who has 100 Test caps, Wales and British Lions international Leigh Halfpenny and World Cup winner Bryan Habana.

"This group - rock stars as they are - you set them a task and they will work really hard," Cockerill added.

"Talk common sense, make sure what you are talking about is relevant to playing and people will listen. Hopefully I'll do that.

"After the next five months I don't know where I am at, but I am going to put everything into it."
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