Richard Cockerill joins Toulon as consultant on short-term deal

Toulon have signed Richard Cockerill as a consultant on a short-term deal at the request of their head coach Mike Ford.

Cockerill will remain with the three-time European champions until the end of the season after he was sacked by Leicester Tigers from rugby director role on Monday following the Aviva Premiership club's dismal performance this season.

The news was confirmed by a statement released by Toulon.

"At the request of our manager Mike Ford and with the agreement of all the staff of the Rugby Club Toulon, Richard Cockerill will reinforce the staff of the first team of the club in the coming days as a rugby consultant until the end of the season," read the statement.

"Richard Cockerill, who coached the Leicester Tigers from 2005 to January 2017 as the forwards coach and then as the senior coach, will work under the authority of Mike Ford and in co-operation with forwards coach Marc Dal Maso and skills coach Steve Meehan."

Toulon are placed sixth in the table with eight wins from 15 games and will take on Clermont Auvergne next on Sunday.