RUGBY World Cup winner Lewis Moody says his appointment as director of rugby at Bradford on Avon RFC offers him the chance to put something back into town he now calls home.

The 71-times capped international, who lifted the Webb Ellis Trophy with England in Australia in 2003, was confirmed in the role at the Southern Counties South club this week.

Moody, who also captained his country at the 2011 World Cup will work alongside the club's existing head coach Dave George, with Bradford kicking off their league season with a trip to Bath side Walcot tomorrow.

The 36-year-old former 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 at club level with Leicester before ending his career with a short spell at Bath.

His involvement with the club came about initially with his son joining the minis section two years ago but, with his family settled in the town, Moody, nicknamed Mad Dog during his playing career, hopes his vast experience can boost the profile of Bradford in the community.

“It’s my town now, I’m a local and it just felt nice to be able to give back some knowledge of the game to a club that is enthusiastic,’’ he told the Wiltshire Times.

“The club is only relatively young but it’s full of guys who want to make the most of this place.

“It’s the opportunity for me to get back into the game and do it through a route which gives me massive enjoyment, at a club that’s local to me and the local community.

“I don’t think I’d focussed on getting back into coaching, but I love it, it’s great fun.

“I feel like I’m being able to give back, after what rugby gave me.

“I love rugby, I always have. I started at Bracknell minis, which was a local club, and to be involved here is great.

“I’ve enjoyed every moment – it’s reminded me of why I love rugby because I’d been away from it for a while.’’ While Moody will be working alongside George with the coaching of the club’s senior men’s teams, he also hopes to have an impact at all levels of the club.

“It’s very much hands-on. Dave is first team coach and has been for a very long time and he’ll remain.

“I’ve come in as DoR, for want of a better word, but we’ll basically coach together, helping out at the club and hopefully implementing a bit of a culture change in terms of getting the community in and getting everyone on our side.

“The minis section here is just crazy, it’s rammed to the rafters and it’s just digging into that goodwill and building on the great work that’s been done before.

“My role is that I want to impart as much of the rugby knowledge that I gained over the years on to the lads that are here. I want to be here and help as much as possible.

“There’s all sorts of planning going on, a focus on the community and getting the involvement. There are people who want to drive the club forward.

“They and I have some very realistic ambitions of where we want the club to be, but ultimately I just want the guys to enjoy their rugby.’’

Head coach George said: “It is quite exciting and from my point of view as a coach, I’m learning a hell of a lot as well.

“It’s a different voice from having me shout at them (the players) for the last 12 years!

“With Lewis it’s going to help me watch and learn.

“He comes up with ideas and I do and we’ll sit down and mix and match. He’s quite easy to get along with and he knows his stuff.’’

Club communications director Keith Dewar added: “Lewis’s 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.’’