Rugby World Cup 2027: Former England hooker and long-time coach Richard Cockerill has stepped down from his roles. As head coach of the Georgian national team and the Black Lion franchise, with immediate effect. Bringing an abrupt end to his two-year spell in charge.
Don’t miss your chance to grab Rugby World Cup Tickets from eticketing.co. Witness the world’s best rugby nations compete for the Webb Ellis Cup across Australia’s iconic stadiums. Book early for the best seats and experience the thrill of world-class rugby!
Cockerill, who turns 55 this week, took over the Georgia job at the start of the 2024 Rugby Europe Men’s Championship after replacing Levan Maisashvili. During his time with the Lelos, Cockerill delivered solid results on paper. He won 14 of his 21 matches in charge. A success rate of around two-thirds, and guided Georgia to back-to-back Rugby Europe Championship titles.
Those achievements also secured Georgia’s qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. Continuing the nation’s impressive record of appearing at every tournament since 2003. Despite those accomplishments, there was a growing sense of frustration behind the scenes.
While Georgia continued to dominate teams at their own level, all 14 of Cockerill’s victories came against sides they were expected to beat. The inability to claim a landmark win over a Tier 1 nation or significantly narrow the gap to rugby’s elite became an increasing concern for senior figures within Georgian Rugby.
Just as the Rugby World Cup 2027 will ignite Australia with excitement, football fans are counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026. Two global tournaments. One shared passion. Explore fixtures, venues, and FIFA World Cup Tickets for football’s biggest stage. Visit eticketing.co and start your journey today.
Rugby World Cup: Cockerill Proud of Progress Made in Georgia
Cockerill has pointed to a difference in vision with the new leadership at the Georgian Rugby Union. As the key reason for his departure. In a statement, he explained that the change at the top brought a new direction for the national team, one that ultimately led to a mutual parting of ways.
I would like to thank the Georgian Rugby Union for the honor of being head coach of the Georgian national team and the Black Lions for the past two years, Cockerill said. I was invited by the former president, Ioseb Tkemaladze, and I am personally grateful to him for that opportunity.
He went on to acknowledge the arrival of Davit Kacharava as president earlier this year. Noting that the new leadership had a different vision for the future. He has his own ideas for how the Georgian national team should develop, and I respect that decision. I wish him and his team every success going forward, Cockerill added.
Reflecting on his time in the role, Cockerill struck a positive and respectful tone. He said he was proud of what had been achieved and believed he was leaving the team in a stronger position than when he arrived. He also spoke warmly about his experience living and working in Georgia, praising the country’s culture and the hospitality of its people.
Get your Rugby World Cup 2027 Tickets now on eticketing.co, the trusted platform for rugby fans worldwide. Enjoy the ultimate sporting spectacle as the tournament returns to Australia in 2027. Join fans from across the globe and celebrate rugby’s biggest event live!
Rugby World Cup Final: Georgian Rugby Begins Search for New Head Coach
And describing the role as a unique rugby and life experience. The Georgian Rugby Union responded by thanking Cockerill for his work and commitment, wishing him well in his future coaching career. With his departure confirmed, Georgian Rugby has moved quickly to identify a high-profile successor as it looks to take the next step on the international stage.
Cockerill now finds himself back on the coaching market with one of the most extensive résumés in the game. He spent 23 years at Leicester Tigers as a player and later as head coach, becoming closely associated with the club’s hard-edged, confrontational identity. After leaving Leicester, he went on to hold senior coaching roles at Toulon.
Edinburgh and Montpellier, gaining experience across both the English Premiership and the French Top 14. He has also been part of the England set-up, working for a year as an assistant coach under Eddie Jones. In December 2022, Cockerill briefly stepped in as interim head coach of the England men’s team before Steve Borthwick was appointed on a full-time basis.
As Georgia considers its next move, Warren Gatland has emerged as a leading candidate to take over. One of the most decorated coaches in modern rugby, Gatland first made his name with Ireland before overseeing two hugely successful spells as head coach of Wales.
Rugby World Cup 2027 Tickets are now available at eticketing.co! Be part of the excitement as Australia hosts the biggest rugby tournament in the world. Secure your seats today and witness the world’s top rugby nations battle for the Webb Ellis Cup. Don’t miss this chance to experience world-class rugby live in action!