Lydon rewarded for magnificent Sevens

Former Rugby League star Joe Lydon has been rewarded for his highly successful tenure as England Sevens coach - which includes a third consecutive International Rugby Board (IRB) Hong Kong Sevens victory this weekend - by landing a job within England's senior coaching set-up.

Lydon will see the England Sevens team through to the end of the current IRB Sevens season, before joining forces with England coach Sir Clive Woodward and his squad ahead of their tour of Australasia in June.

"Joe will be leaving the Sevens to join our group. He worked a lot with us before the World Cup, and he has got a very important role to play," said Woodward.

England notched up an impressive hat-trick of Hong Kong titles with a 22-12 victory over Argentina on Sunday - a win that ensures that they start as favourites to win next year's Sevens World Cup, which is to be staged in the former British enclave.

Lydon said that the senior XV's 24-21 defeat to France in Saturday's RBS Six Nations decider in Paris had focused his squad ahead of Sunday's knockout stages, which saw them beat Fiji, South Africa and Argentina en route to their third successive Hong King title.

"We wanted to make sure we were picking up the silverware today after what happened in Paris," he said.

With only three legs to play in the 2003/04 IRB World Sevens season, England trail leaders and defending champions, New Zealand, by only four points in the overall standings.

The final rounds take place in Singapore (April 3/4), Bordeaux (May 28/29) and London (June 5/6).