London Irish have announced that director of rugby Nick Kennedy has opted to resign and will leave the club with immediate effect.

Kennedy had been given the opportunity to remain in his position to work alongside new technical consultant Declan Kidney and head coach Les Kiss.

However, after taking time to consider his options, the 35 year-old has requested to leave the club. A club statement explained that the London Irish management had “reluctantly accepted his resignation”.

Kennedy took up the role of director of rugby in the summer of 2016, having re-joined the club as academy director in 2014 after short spells as a player at Harlequins and Toulon.

The former lock made more than 200 appearances for London Irish’s first team in a decade-long playing career that also included seven England caps and an appearance in the 2009 Premiership final.

“Nick will always be a major figure in the London Irish history books,” said Mick Crossan, London Irish’s president and majority shareholder.

“He was an excellent player and we believed that he had a promising career in front of him as a coach, which we had hoped that he would fulfil under the guidance of Declan Kidney and Les Kiss. So, we’re disappointed that he has decided to move on.