ENGLAND HEAD COACH Eddie Jones is open to the idea of adding Richard Cockerill to his coaching set-up.

Long-serving director of rugby Cockerill, 46, was sacked by Aviva Premiership club Leicester Tigers on Monday, with the team fifth in the table – 15 points adrift of leaders Wasps.

Leicester claimed three Premiership titles and were the 2009 Heineken Cup runners-up under former England international Cockerill, but they have failed to reach the domestic final in each of the last three campaigns.

Jones sympathises with Cockerill and said he would “never close the door”.

“I have a massive amount of sympathy for Richard Cockerill,” Jones told BBC Sport.

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“He is a great rugby guy, a great player for Leicester, has been a very successful director of rugby and coach.

“You don’t like to see that happen to anyone but the reality of being a coach is that everyone goes through that and I am sure he will end up somewhere else.

“It has been a discussion point for the Leicester players. They are disappointed for Richard but know they have to get on with the job.

“We are very well endowed with the forwards coaches we have at the moment so we can always look at the possibility of that [getting Cockerill].”

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