Lord to leave ECB after 25 years to take up role in rugby

Gordon Lord, the ECB's head of elite coach development, is set to swap his role in cricket for a similar position in rugby union, after being appointed as the new head of professional coach development at the Rugby Football Union (RFU).

Lord, 55, has spent 25 years at the ECB (formerly TCCB), following a decade of first-class cricket with Warwickshire and Worcestershire. He has held his current role since 2006, during which time he has been responsible for the development and leadership of the ECB elite coach development strategy and of a new game-wide coach development strategy.

He also leads the delivery of level three and four coaching and the personal development and succession plans for all elite-coaching roles at the ECB.

In his new role, starting from April, he will report to Dean Ryan, the RFU's head of international player development, and be responsible for implementing a coaching development and education programme to further the development of world-class England rugby players.

"I'm delighted to be joining at such an exciting time for England rugby," said Lord. "This new challenge offers the chance for me to help enhance the coaching culture in English rugby and build on an established coach development programme."

Commenting on the appointment, Ryan said: "Gordon is well-regarded throughout sport for his work developing coaches and has proven experience in effective coaching processes and mentoring coaches at an elite level. He has built an outstanding elite coach development programme in cricket and we look forward to welcoming him to the RFU in April."

It is understood that the ECB will be seeking a replacement for Lord but Andy Flower confirmed to ESPNcricinfo that he does not intend to apply for the role.