The 40-year-old will work under Geordan Murphy, who has been appointed as the Tigers' director of rugby.

Borthwick has been lined up to take up a senior role at the Tigers for some time, and is the latest coaching change at Welford Road.

Leicester were 11th in the Premiership last season, their worst-ever finish, and are in the same place this season.

The Tigers would be bottom but for Saracens' points deduction, and subsequent relegation, for breaching salary cap regulations.

Murphy replaced the sacked Matt O'Connor as head coach of the once-dominant Tigers after a heavy defeat at Exeter on the opening day of the 2018-19 season, while former England coach Mike Ford was brought in to support club stalwart Murphy in March with the Welford Road club fighting relegation.

"The appointment of Steve Borthwick as head coach and Geordan Murphy in the role of director of rugby provides an exciting combination of leadership, expertise and experience to drive the club forward in its desire to challenge for major honours again," Leicester chairman Peter Tom told the club website.

"The club has enjoyed many of its greatest successes with a blend of the Tigers DNA alongside fresh, innovative ideas from outside, both among the players and the coaching staff, and we look forward to Geordan and Steve leading that in their respective new roles."

It was confirmed on Monday that Borthwick would leave his position within the England coaching setup at the end of the season, and had changed his role from forwards coach to skills coach for the upcoming Six Nations.

'Among the brightest and most astute young coaches in the game'

Borthwick won 57 England caps in a career which saw him play in the 2007 World Cup final defeat by South Africa and captain the national side from 2008 until 2010.

He began his career with Bath in 1998, winning the European Challenge Cup and playing in a Premiership final before leaving after a decade in 2008 to join Saracens, with whom he would see out his career.

He was part of the Saracens side that won the 2011 Premiership final where they beat Leicester 22-18 at Twickenham and retired in 2014.

His first coaching role was alongside Eddie Jones as Japan's forwards coach, before having a short spell in charge of the forwards at Bristol, under ex-England boss Andy Robinson.

He left his role at Ashton Gate after just two months to link up with Jones again after the Australian had been installed as England coach after the 2015 World Cup.

"He is regarded among the brightest and most astute young coaches in the game and he played a prominent part in the coaching team which led England to the Rugby World Cup final last year," added Tom.

"He has a wealth of knowledge and experience at the very highest level as player and now as a coach, and has a clear vision of where he wants to take the team. We look forward to welcoming him on board."