Stuart Lancaster thriving at Leinster but says he will always be scarred by his England exit

Lancaster, from Culgaith, has helped to transform Leinster following his appointment as their senior coach in 2016, a year after his England exit.

His departure came in the wake of a disastrous World Cup which saw England become the first host nation to go out in the group stages.

Lancaster, 49, has revealed he was given advice by former England football manager Roy Hodgson on how to cope with the hurt.

"It’s not to say it doesn’t hurt and that I don’t think about it a lot. I still do," said Lancaster, reflecting on his World Cup failure.

"Roy Hodgson, the former England football manager, told me: ‘The scar will never go, but it does fade.’ It helps to have a new team, new players, new people, new challenges - like I do now."

The Penrith-born man says how the support of "a great circle of friends" in his home county also helped him after he was left out of work following the disappointing fashion that his spell with the national team had come to an end.

"Some of the criticism levelled at me hurt. But we have a great circle of friends, a very small community [around his parents’ home]," he said.

"They only knew me as Stuart - rather than the England head coach. So, whenever I came home, I was never treated differently."

Since then, though, Lancaster has helped Leinster enjoy great success, winning a historic double last year.

Lancaster believes this is down to the community feel at the Irish province club.

"It’s different in England. After A-levels, many people in England go to university in a different city. In Dublin, if they go to university they stay in the city. So this group have gone to school together, played school matches together, gone to university together, come through the academy together," he told The Guardian. "The sense of identity and connection is incredible. Leinster have got more local players than any club I’ve been involved in.

"When I first arrived, I talked to players individually. I’d say: ‘Where are you from?’ Dublin. ‘Where did you to go to university?’ Dublin. ‘Where would you like to go in the future?’ They all wanted to stay in Dublin and play for Leinster.

"The cohesion, the sense of community, is huge. People often talk about Ireland having an advantage because they prioritise Europe over domestic competition. But people sometimes fail to recognise there are some great players here.

"If you had to pick a Lions team right now, there would be quite a few players from Ireland in it."

Having found redemption with Leinster, will Lancaster watch England play Ireland at the Aviva Stadium next Saturday?

"I haven’t decided. I’ve only been to the Aviva for Ireland games – against Wales and New Zealand," he said. "Leinster don’t have a game when England play Ireland. But I’ve not seen England play since I left. I’m still debating that one in my mind."

Of course, Lancaster is close to many players on both sides of the camp.

He added: "Ireland, obviously, but all the England players, too. I gave most of them their first cap.

"It’s a special moment, as a coach, to say to a player you’re going to represent your country for the first time. You never forget that.

"I’ve coached lots of the England players. If I go to the match, I’ll bury myself into a little box - because part of the charm is concentrating on the game."