Leicester Tigers have appointed Simon Cohen as their new Chief Executive Officer.
Cohen has worked for the club since 2005, first as Head of Rugby Operations and then in September 2011 he joined the Board of Directors in the new role of Acting Chief Operating Officer.
With a vast and varied background as a sports lawyer, Cohen has previous experience of representing the England rugby team, the British and Irish Lions and the Rugby Players Association.
In addition, he founded the nationwide rugby coaching company Rugby Class, and prior to his move to Leicester worked as agent for a number of England stars including Jonny Wilkinson.
Meanwhile, Leicester Tigers’ domestic campaign gathered further strength with a comfortable LV= Cup quarter-final win over Newcastle.
After crashing unceremoniously out of the Heineken Cup, the two-time European champions have been forced to concentrate on domestic matters, and a 24-13 victory at Welford Road has secured their first LV= Cup semi-final berth in four years.
In snowy conditions number 8 Thomas Waldrom, who was released from England training earlier in the week, scored a try in the first half as the Tigers established a 19-6 lead at the interval.
George Skivington crossed the line after the break to put Leicester out of sight, while the rest of the points came from the reliable boot of fly-half Jeremy Staunton.
The Irishman made way for the returning Toby Flood with just under half an hour left, a development that England coach Stuart Lancaster will no doubt have noted with Italy on the horizon next Saturday.
The Tigers will travel to the Rec to face Bath under the floodlights on Friday, March 9, where the winners will face either Northampton Saints or Llanelli Scarlets at Worcester’s Sixways Stadium the following Sunday.