Jason Robinson will return to coach Sale Sharks © Getty Images

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England's World Cup-winning winger Jason Robinson will return to rugby as head coach at his former club Sale Sharks. Robinson, a dual code legend, has come out of retirement to take up a post alongside new Sharks director of rugby Kingsley Jones, who himself replaced the outgoing Philippe Saint Andre.

Robinson, 34, retired from playing in 2007 but has been coaxed out of retirement to work behind the scenes at the club that he served following his switch from rugby league in 2000. He won the Guinness Premiership with Sale in 2006 and will be tasked with returning the club to the summit of the English game.

"I am delighted to be back involved at Sale Sharks and I am looking forward to working with Kingsley and the rest of the coaching team," said Robinson. "I have missed the day to day involvement and am looking forward to getting started."

Robinson's arrival will prove a morale boost to Sale, who will lose not only Saint Andre but long-serving players Jason White, Sebatien Chabal and Sebastien Bruno at the end of the season. A worry may remain for fans in that Robinson has minimal coaching experience, having worked with youth sides in rugby league, and will need to adapt quickly to the rigours of Premiership competition.

He will be joined at the club by Phil Keith-Roach, who will take up the reins as forwards coach. Keith-Roach was scrummaging coach to England during the Clive Woodward era and like Robinson has signed a two-year deal.

"Sharks are a very focused club, I like the set up and I like the people," commented Keith-Roach. "The club is very ambitious and has come a long way over the past few years; Kingsley has been a big factor in this an I am sure he will take the club a lot further. I look forward to starting work with him in the very near future."

Jones welcomed the appointment of the duo, adding, "It's fantastic news for the club that Jason has agreed to join the coaching staff. It's no coincidence that in the three years that Jason was captain was the most successful in the club's history.

"Jason has been a professional since the age of 16 and everything he has done in both codes he has been successful at. He is renowned for his enthusiasm and drive and is a proven 100% winner. He also has great mentoring skills which will prove invaluable in his work with the senior and academy players at the club.

"Phil brings a wealth of coaching experience with him having spent eleven years working with England. He has worked with some great coaches including Sir Clive Woodward and was scrummaging coach to England when they won the World Cup in 2003. I am delighted that he joins us in a formal capacity, as he has been a mentor and good friend to me over the past few years. Keith has helped and coached so many great forwards over the years including our own Andrew Sheridan, who he coached to winning his first cap."

On signing his own two year deal as Director of Rugby, Jones added, "We have exciting times and positive times ahead at the Club. I am very grateful to Brian Kennedy and Ian Blackhurst who chose to promote me after Philippe decided to leave the club and also to CEO James Jennings who has backed me all the way.

"Recruitment of players for 2009-2010 and beyond is at an advanced stage and we will in the near future be in a position to announce our new signings."