England great steps down as Newcastle's Director

NEWS: England great Dean Richards is to step down as Newcastle's director of rugby at the end of the season but will continue in a consultancy role, the Premiership club announced on Friday.

Richards, 58, has spent the past decade at Kingston Park as part of a managerial career that began in 1998 and has included spells at Leicester, French club Grenoble and Harlequins.

The former England No. 8 will be replaced by current head coach Dave Walder.

"After 25 years as a director of rugby, the last 10 of those at Newcastle, Richards has taken the decision to step aside, although his vast experience will still be utilised in a new part-time consultancy role," a club statement said.

Richards won 48 caps for England and a further six for the British and Irish Lions during his time as a mainstay of the successful Leicester teams of the 1980s and 1990s.

He then went into coaching, only for his career to come to a halt when, as boss of London club Harlequins, he was given a three-year ban in 2009 for his part in the "Bloodgate" scandal -- when a player feigned injury by biting on a fake blood capsule so a substitution could take place.

Richards then joined Newcastle in 2012 after serving his suspension.

Newcastle are currently 11th in the 13-team Premiership, from which there will be no relegation this season.