Leeds Rhinos legend Kevin Sinfield has returned to the club as director of rugby.
The Super League champions this week sacked Brian McDermott, who was the longest serving head coach in the competition, after a run of seven straight Super League defeats left them eighth in the table.
Sinfield has now been appointed the club's first ever director of rugby and will have responsibility over all rugby matters at Headingley.
James Lowes, a former Leeds player and assistant, has been named as first team coach.
"I am delighted and honoured to be offered the chance to return to my club. To follow on from Brian McDermott is a huge challenge but one I am excited about," Sinfield said via a news release.
"Brian will be remembered as the most successful coach the club has ever had and his record speaks for itself.
"I enjoyed playing under him and our task now, as a club, is to take the legacy he has helped to nurture and move it forward with a new generation of players."
Sinfield is a revered figure at the Rhinos having won seven Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, three World Club Challenges and three League Leaders' Shields during his distinguished playing career.
His 521st and final Rhinos appearance helped secure a treble in 2015, and he went on to have a brief spell with Yorkshire Carnegie in rugby union before taking up the role as rugby director with the Rugby Football League.
Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington said: "After an absence of two and half years, we welcome Kevin Sinfield back home to the Rhinos.
"He will have responsibility for all rugby matters including team selection, preparation, performance and results of the first team.
"He will handle all first team player promotion, retention and recruitment moving forward and oversee our coaching staff management and appraisal."
Sinfield will take charge of training on Friday ahead of Leeds' Super League clash against Castleford Tigers on Sunday.
