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Leicester Tigers' Richard Blaze resigns as forwards coach

Leicester Tigers forwards coach Richard Blaze, above with the Premiership trophy in 2013, has resigned from his role at the club. David Rogers/Getty Images

Leicester forwards coach Richard Blaze has resigned from his position at the Aviva Premiership club for personal reasons.

Former Worcester and Leicester lock Blaze retired from playing at the age of 25 due to a foot injury, but he remained at Welford Road and pursued a coaching career.

"Richard has been an integral part of the environment for a long time for such a young man," Leicester head coach Matt O'Connor said. "He has worked extremely hard in a coaching capacity, he is a student of the game and has a real attention to the detail in his work. We are sorry to lose him, and we wish him well for the future."

Blaze, a former England squad member, added: "I have had an amazing 10 years with the Tigers, but for personal reasons I am now standing down as a coach here. I retired early as a player, but I've spent seven seasons as a coach and learned such a lot."

Leicester said that club development coach Brett Deacon will expand his coaching role, including lineout work, on an interim basis until a full-time replacement for Blaze is found.