The England Counties XV, the representative flagship of the Rugby Union game outside the Guinness Premiership, is advertising for a new backs coach to succeed Ben Ryan, who has resigned from both the Counties coaching post and his job as director of rugby at Newbury in order to take on his new full-time position with the RFU Academy.

"We wish Ben every success in his new job and thank him for his contribution to the development of the England Counties XV," said Counties manager Jim Robinson.

"He has brought some fresh, new ideas to the Counties and I know that the players who have worked with him have appreciated his input.

"One of the basic objectives of the Counties XV, of course, is to develop players and coaches and project them onwards and upwards.

"Ben's departure offers the chance for another up-and-coming coach to work with high-quality players who want to progress in the same way that players such as David Strettle and Shaun Perry have since becoming involved with the Counties XV. "

The RFU are now looking for a man to take over from Ryan and do not have long to fill the vacancy.

Arrangements for a proposed tour to Russia in early June are now well advanced and the first requirement for the new man - who will work with forwards coach David Baldwin - will be to join the Counties XV on that trip.

The Counties XV, which draws its players from the County Championship and clubs in National One and below, recently went down 20-17 to an Ireland Clubs XV in Dublin, but bounced back to beat a France Amateurs XV 41-10 at Blackheath.