Canterbury Rugby Club have appointed a trio of new coaches to work alongside Danny Vaughan next season.

Former Maidstone coach Tim McBennett joins as backs coach, while Lee Jeffery becomes head of development, with ex-Welsh international winger Matthew Robinson taking on responsibility for the development squad’s three-quarters.

McBennett boasts a wealth of experience, having worked with the county’s seniors and under-20s and England’s under-18s.

Head coach Vaughan (pictured) has worked alongside McBennett before as part of the county set-up and says it was his experience which set him apart from the other candidates for the role as backs coach.

He said: "We had most of them do a session and Tim just got on with the players well. He already knows a lot of our younger players through his Kent ties."

Jeffrey comes to Merton Lane from London 3 South East side Folkestone, replacing first team stalwart Andy Pratt, who is taking a break to spend more time with his family.

Winger Robinson, 37, won four Wales Test caps in 1999 and joins Canterbury after taking up a post as a teacher at Kent College. He will also be playing for the club.

Chairman Giles Hilton said he was delighted with the new appointments, adding: "We are pleased to have recruited men of such a high calibre and now have a coaching set-up as good as any other operating at our level."

Mr Hilton also paid tribute to former head of development Pratt, saying: "Andy has made an immense contribution in many areas."