London Welsh head coach Phil Greening leaves club

Greening could replace his former England team-mate Neil Back at Leeds

London Welsh have parted company with head coach Phil Greening.

The former England hooker, who joined the Championship club in 2009, has been linked with the vacant Leeds job and a return to his former club Wasps.

Greening worked with the England sevens team after he retired from playing in 2005 with a foot injury.

"I have enjoyed my time at London Welsh, especially how the fans have embraced both me and our style of play," the 35-year-old said.

Greening took London Welsh to the Championship play-off semi-finals this season, after they finished second behind eventual champions Worcester in Pool A, but they lost out to beaten finalists Cornish Pirates.

"I would like to thank the players for all their efforts and friendship over the last two seasons, and I will continue to follow each of their careers closely," he added.

"I have really benefited from my experiences at London Welsh and believe these will stand me in good stead for the future.

"I am now looking forward to a new coaching challenge in England and using all that I have learnt at London Welsh to develop my coaching career further."

Greening, who won 24 England caps during his playing career, was involved in the 1999 World Cup and was selected for the British and Irish Lions tour of Australia in 2001 but missed out because of injury.

His career started at Gloucester in 1994 before moving to Sale Sharks in 1998 and then onto Wasps in 2000 where he won both domestic and European titles.