'Impact': What Steve Borthwick said about Dean Richards ahead of emotional send off

Dean Richards deserves 'enormous credit' for his impact on rugby according to Steve Borthwick ahead of an emotional weekend.

The Leicester Tigers legend has spent the last ten seasons as Newcastle Falcons' director of rugby but will step down from the role at the end of the season.

While the final game of his tenure will come on the last round of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season away at Northampton Saints in early June, the 58-year-old will take charge of his final game at Kingston Park on Saturday, when fittingly Leicester Tigers are the opponents.

In the opposite hotseat will be fellow former England international Borthwick whose Tigers side return to action a fortnight after their Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final defeat to Leinster.

"As a player he lifted a lot of trophies and then as a coach and a director of rugby, his impact is enormous. He deserves enormous credit for that, what he's done," said the Leicester boss.

"It's clearly a big week for them, a big week for him, the last home game with him in charge at the club. There will be a lot of emotion for them, I am sure everyone will be wanting to do very, very well for Dean and giving him a great send-off that he rightfully deserves from the club."

Richards made more than 300 appearances for Tigers before retiring from playing in 1997 - with his final game coming against Newcastle Falcons at Mattioli Woods Welford Road.

He took over from Bob Dwyer as head coach in 1998 and in his first full season as Director of Rugby won the Allied Dunbar Premiership. Three more league titles and two Heineken Cup triumphs followed during a seven-year reign in the top job.

Richards' 23-year association with Tigers ended in February 2004.

After a brief spell at