Former Tigers and England hooker Cockerill will lead the coaching team, assisted by Matt O’Connor and Paul Burke, following the resignation of head coach Heyneke Meyer for personal reasons this week.
“Heyneke was in an unenviable position with the situation in South Africa, but now that he has confirmed he is unable to come back, we just want everyone to focus entirely on the rest of the season,” said chairman Tom.
“We are very confident that Richard and his support staff will do a good job.
“Cocker has done a great job previously when he held the reins before the Rugby World Cup in 2007. We have told him to get on with it and said that if he needs any help he just has to ask.
“All the players and staff pull together here and the most important thing now is that we concentrate on the rest of the season.
“We have a good coaching and support team, and we have a great group of senior players alongside captain Martin Corry, and that is what holds the club together.
“I saw tremendous resolve and team spirit in the match at the Ospreys last Saturday and in the win over Bath in the Guinness Premiership before that. We are in a Heineken Cup quarter-final, we are fifth in the Guinness Premiership and we have everything to play for.”
Tigers return to action on Sunday, February 15 with a trip to London Wasps (5pm) and then host Worcester Warriors at Welford Road on Saturday, February 21 (3pm). Tickets are on sale now from the Tigers ticket office. Call 08701 28 34 30, book online or call in at Welford Road.
