WORCESTER Warriors target Richard Cockerill has been appointed as the head coach of Edinburgh from the start of next season.

The three-time Premiership winning coach has signed a two-year deal and will relocate to Scotland for the new role after his recent spell with Toulon.

Warriors had been keen to secure Cockerill’s services next term and  approached him when they were seeking a new director of rugby.

Former Newcastle Falcons, Bath and London Irish chief Gary Gold arrived at Sixways earlier this month and is Warriors’ director of rugby, initially, until the end of the season.

Cockerill said: “I am very much looking forward to a new challenge and the opportunity at Edinburgh ticked all the boxes.

"It’s a real rugby city, and the club has a lot of potential to grow on, and off, the pitch.

"The conversations I had with Mark Dodson and Scott Johnson were instrumental in understanding what the vision for Edinburgh is and it is a project I’m excited to be a part of.

“I’m also relishing the chance of coaching in the Guinness PRO12, which is a new league for me, and working with a clearly talented group of players.”

After two spells playing for Leicester and two years at Montferrand Cockerill spent 12 years in coaching roles at Leicester Tigers, rising through the ranks to become head coach in 2009 and then director of rugby in 2010.

He led the team to Premiership semi-finals every season he was in charge and won back to back titles in 2009, 2010 and a subsequent title in 2013.

During his time with the club he also reached the Heineken Cup final in Edinburgh in 2009 and won the LV Cup in 2012.

The 27 time-capped hooker for England was released by Leicester in January 2017 and immediately took up a consultancy role with Toulon in the French Top 14.