Former dual-code international Andy Farrell has joined the England coaching set-up as assistant to Saxons boss Stuart Lancaster.
Former international named assistant coach
Former dual-code international Andy Farrell has joined the England coaching set-up as assistant to Saxons boss Stuart Lancaster.
Farrell, who won 34 caps for Great Britain at rugby league before switching to union in 2005, has been working as the skills and backs coach at Saracens since retiring.
However, Farrell, who went on to be capped eight times by England, will now team up with the Saxons for their forthcoming internationals against Ireland A and Italy A.
National Academy coach Simon Hardy, who was part of the England's successful World Cup campaign in 2003, will also work with the Saxons for the two matches.
Lancaster said "Simon and Andy will ensure we have a very strong coaching team in place as we prepare and plan for two very tough matches against Ireland on January 31 at Bath and Italy in Treviso the following Sunday.
"The Ireland game will be the first time we have played each other since our loss in the 2009 Churchill Cup final and I'm sure the game will once again be a very good test for our players.
"Simon has a wealth of experience coaching the forwards and in his specialist area of the line out and Andy has been a key part of Saracens success this season and I'm delighted both are joining the Saxons squad."
