FORMER Warrington Wolves, Wigan Warriors and St Helens international centre Martin Gleeson is to join the England Rugby Union senior coaching set-up as attack coach.

Gleeson joins from Wasps, where he has been attack coach since 2019, and will have company from another ex-Wire player Jon Clarke, who is already on Eddie Jones' staff.

Wiganer Gleeson, whose younger brother Mark also played for The Wire as a hooker, enjoyed a successful rugby league playing career, representing both Great Britain and England.

He also played for Huddersfield Giants, Hull FC and Salford City Reds, winning the Super League twice (2002 and 2010) and the Challenge Cup in 2004.

He moved into coaching with Salford in 2014, before joining Wasps.

Gleeson will begin working with Jones and the wider England staff on Monday.

“As a player you always want to represent your country at the highest level and it’s no different for a coach," he said.

"This is something I have strived for and coaching England is the pinnacle.

"I’m looking forward to working with Eddie, the staff and some of the best players in the world, helping them in their development and achieving their ultimate goals.”

Jones said: “We are building a coaching team to win the 2023 Rugby World Cup, we have five campaigns to go before then so every appointment from here on in is very important.

“We’re starting with Martin as attack coach. He’s a bright young rugby coach with experience at the highest level in league so he will add significant power to the team. He’s done extremely well with Wasps and he will come in and build on the good work that Simon Amor started with us.

“I look forward to welcoming him to the coaching team.”

England will host three fixtures at Twickenham Stadium this autumn, opening with Tonga on Saturday 6 November (3.15pm KO).

They will then play Australia on Saturday 13 November (5.30pm KO), and South Africa, in their final game, on Saturday 20 November (3.15pm KO).