RUGBY World Cup winner Lewis Moody has been appointed as director of rugby at Bradford on Avon Rugby Club.

Moody, who lifted the Webb Wllis Trophy with England in Australia in 2003, has taken up the reins with immediate effect, with Bradford kicking off their campaign in Southern Counties South this Saturday after promotion last season.

The 71-times capped international, who also captained his country at the 2011 World Cup will work alongside the club's exisiting head coach Dave George.

The 36 year old back row, who retired in 2012, played in two World Cup finals, also winning two Six Nations Championships and won two Heineken Cups and seven Premiership titles with Leicester before ending his career with a short spell at Bath.

Already an RFU-qualified coach, he and his family live in the town and became associated with the club when his son joined Bradford's U6s two seasons ago.

Moody, nicknamed Mad Dog, said: “I’m really excited to be taking on the Director of Rugby role at my home town club of Bradford on Avon RFC.

"My affiliation with the club started two seasons ago when my son started in the U6s and I was hugely impressed with the set-up.

"I then got involved with the first team last season and was massively encouraged by the commitment the lads showed and proved in winning their league.

"I truly hope my experience will benefit the whole club, the juniors as well as the seniors, both on and off the pitch.

"The role will also give me the opportunity to get back into a club environment, something I’ve really missed, and pass on the knowledge and values that the sport has given me to young, aspiring players and I’m looking forward to working with head coach Dave George”.

Club communications director Keith Dewar added: “We feel incredibly proud and fortunate to have Lewis on board, and we are going to work hard as a club to justify his faith in us.

"Lewis’ arrival has created a positive pressure for the entire club to raise our game in everything we do and there is a renewed excitement and energy on the pitches and around the clubhouse.

"From his first pre-season coaching session, and from his first coaches meeting, he has been instrumental in adding real value to our enterprise. On the one hand, he’s just a lovely, down-to-earth, normal guy.

"On the other hand, he has a commitment to achieving excellence in everything he does, demonstrates pure rugby values, and has an inspiring, effortless leadership style that could only come from someone who has operated at the top level for as long as he has.''

MORE ON THIS STORY, INCLUDING AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW WITH MOODY I THIS WEEK'S WILTSHIRE TIMES, OUT ON FRIDAY