Wanstead Rugby Club has hired Kyran Bracken as a member of their coaching staff, bringing an England rugby World Cup winner to one of the area’s oldest clubs.

Mr. Bracken played scrum-half with the England team that won the Rugby World Cup in 2003.

He won a total of 51 caps for England, and spent a decade at Saracens, the current European champions.

The hiring of Mr. Bracken is part of a new coaching set up at Wanstead, who have played rugby in East London for almost 130 years.

Jeremey Walmsley will be head coach, arriving for a second spell at the Redbridge club.

Mr. Walmsley has coached a number of teams in the U.K. and his native New Zealand and is currently Head of Rugby at St Albans School.

Following the appointment, Wanstead’s Chairman James Cull said this is a very exciting time for the club.

“Along with the planned redevelopment of our grounds, it is an example of how Wanstead are going from strength to strength for both the senior and junior sections of our club,” he said.

“Wanstead have teams from a veterans’ squad, to three senior teams and a junior setup that goes down to the under 6s. The club is currently recruiting for all these teams.

“Wanstead has also won plaudits in the media as a diverse club whose recruitment increasingly reflects the community it operates in.

“If you want to train with a former rugby World Cup winner, get yourself down to Wanstead.”