Matt O’Connor says new forwards coach Mark Bakewell brings a lot of experience, knowledge and detail to the role at Leicester Tigers.

Bakewell, who has previous Premiership experience with Bath and Bristol as well as working in Australia, Japan and France, moved into Oval Park last week and is settling into his role as part of the coaching team.

“He is incredibly detailed,” said head coach O’Connor of the newcomer.

“Mark brings a great wealth of knowledge across several competitions and he will add a detailed look to what we are about.

“We’ve done a lot of research and looked at a number of candidates and he was the stand-out. We are really happy with the contribution he will make going forward.

“I’m sure Mark will develop and grow our forward pack into a formidable beast.”

Bakewell’s arrival adds to O’Connor’s coaching group which also includes Boris Stankovich, Brett Deacon and Geordan Murphy.

“We’ve been looking at the structure and the roles and responsibilities around that,” said O’Connor.

“It is a fairly fluid room and there is a lot of collaboration between coaches, that’s the way it works, but Brett will assist Mark in his capacity with the forwards and what they are trying to deliver, while Boris does the scrum throughout the club.

“Geordan will fulfil a responsibility around the skillset for the whole environment and trying to grow that throughout the playing group.”