Leicester Tigers head coach Steve Borthwick believes rugby union coaches can learn a lot from rugby league.
Following the conclusion of Leicester’s Premiership season last month, Borthwick moved to add former Leeds Rhinos head of rugby Kevin Sinfield to his coaching staff for the 2021/22 season.
Sinfield, who does have some experience of the 15-man game, is just the latest name to switch codes with the likes of Martin Gleeson, Paul Deacon, Sean Long and even Shaun Wane notably doing the same in recent years, albeit briefly in the case of the latter two.
Borthwick previously worked under England coach and renowned rugby league fan Eddie Jones, who spent time in the Hull FC camp earlier in the season.
For the Leicester man, though, it's easy to see why so many Premiership clubs have looked to recruit coaches and personalities from the Super League.
“I think there's a lot of transfer of coaches coming across and players coming across and doing really well,” he said, as per Leicestershire Live.
“During the international season at this point in time, you're looking at Shaun Edwards with France, heading down to Australia, he's done an incredible job everywhere he has gone. Andy Farrell, again, has done an incredible job.
“There's a huge amount of crossover in terms of the principles around the game. When I chat to rugby league coaches, I think the way they are coaching and the way they are preparing their teams is probably ahead of where we are in rugby union.
“When I chat to rugby league coaches, I pick up an enormous amount.”
