FORMER Gloucester Rugby back row forward and club captain Adam Balding has returned to Kingsholm.

However, he's back in a non-playing capacity as he starts in post as the club's new Head of Community.

Born in Coventry, Balding started his playing career with Leicester Tigers before moving to Gloucester. He then had spells with Leeds Carnegie, Newcastle Falcons, Worcester Warriors and London Welsh. He is still turning out for Cinderford in National League Two South.

Away from the field of play, he returned to Gloucester to work for the City Council in the role of Event Co-ordinator for Gloucester as a Rugby World Cup 2015 host city.

In his new role, he is looking forward to getting stuck in, but stresses that there is already a very good team in place.

"It's good to be back and I'm looking forward to the challenges ahead. But we've already got a fantastic Community department, the team delivers some amazing stuff.

"I think it's a case of looking at what we're currently doing and seeing what we can do to add to the current projects and see what we can do more of.”

CEO Stephen Vaughan hailed Balding's appointment as an important one for the club.

"We see over 10,000 children each year through various engagement programmes throughout the county and are working with more rugby clubs than we ever have done.

"Adam's been brought in to look at it all with a fresh pair of eyes, to increase our work in the Community, both from a welfare as well as a rugby perspective, as well as looking at fundraising. We're delighted to have him on board. He was the standout candidate."