Rob Burgess is returning to his role as Gloucester's head of rugby operations after a year working with England.

Burgess, who joined England as team operations manager in August 2008, returns in time for Saturday's Premiership opener with Bath.

He told BBC Radio Gloucestershire: "I have enormous respect for head coach Bryan Redpath. He's very passionate.

"He has a lot of good beliefs about how he can bring a good level of success to Gloucester. I share in those beliefs."

He added: "I had the opportunity to keep working with Martin Johnson (England manager) but the challenge at Gloucester is greater.

"We believe the first 15 can still match any in the league."

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