Mapletoft will continue to coach the England Under-20s (Getty)

Southend RFC's director of rugby Ben Green believes having Mark Mapletoft as their new head coach is a real bonus.

The former England international and Premiership fly-half will work alongside Green, who has taken over from previous director, Kevin Harman.

Green said: "You can see in the way the players are reacting to his coaching techniques and him being there, there is a new intensity.

"It also helps us in attracting new players to club."

Green added: "It gives you an extra weapon in trying to convince them to come to Southend as opposed to the more traditionally fashionable clubs."

Mapletoft will perform the role in a part-time capacity, combining it with his role as head coach with the England Under-20 squad.

The benefits for us obviously are to be associated with a Premiership club and to be able to improve ourselves Ben Green on the club's tie-up with Saracens

His arrival is the latest in a number of significant developments the club has announced over the summer, not least their official tie-up with Premiership side Saracens.

Green explained the benefits for both clubs were at player, coaching and marketing level, and will see some of the London club's players at Warner's Bridge.

"The benefit for Saracens obviously is game time for people who are not in their first-22 match-day squad.

"At Premiership level, second-team rugby is few and far between and they'll have probably 10 games per year, so they do need to have players playing regularly at a decent level."

Green continued: "The benefits for us obviously are to be associated with a Premiership club and to be able to improve ourselves as a result of the way they help or develop our coaches, marketing people, fitness conditioning etc."