BOURNEMOUTH director of rugby David Dunn has stressed the club are doing everything they can to help former Sale centre Robert Todd develop his fledgling coaching career.

The New Zealander, who has also played for London Scottish, London Irish and Gloucester, is still coming to terms with the shock news delivered to him in March that he had been diagnosed with skin cancer.

Not surprisingly, after undergoing initial treatment for the illness and having a tumour cut out of his arm, Todd was forced to prematurely give up his professional playing career after eight years at the top level in Britain.

The 35-year-old has been told he has to return to see the medical men every three months for the next five years, with his first check-up next month.

But now Todd, who also had to shelve future plans to combine training as a chiropractor in America while playing university rugby after being awarded a scholarship, has felt the time is right to return to the game.

So he has linked up with the ambitious South West Division Two East title-chasers at Chapel Gate on the coaching side.

That move came after Todd, who helped Sale win the English Premiership title last season, relocated with his family, wife Siobhan and daughters Shannia, seven, and Phoenix, three, from Cheadle to Bournemouth.

Now a student, he will combine his studies and future enrolment at the Anglo-European College of Chiropractic at Boscombe next year, with his part time rugby duties for the Lions.

Dunn said: "Robert has been with us since the beginning of September helping out with the coaching.

"He has been given a number of offers to get involved in coaching at various levels. We recognised his situation and have done all we can to help him stay in the game.

"The benefits he has brought to our coaching team and our players have been unbelievable.

"He is playing a full role in the coaching team and he has worked alongside the players. He has invaluable knowledge and insight into the game at the top level and his work applying that to Bournemouth is second to none.

"Robert is fresh out of the professional game and when we heard he was moving to the area it was an opportunity too good to miss.

"The benefits to Robert are that he can develop his coaching career through working with the senior players at Bournemouth.

"He has a desire to put something back into the game that has given him so much, and he is the perfect role model for the players to look up to.

"I'm grateful to our main sponsor Wood BMW of Bournemouth because without their help we wouldn't have been able to secure Robert's services."

Dunn, whose high-flying side visit Windsor today as they continue their pursuit of National League status, added: "Robert is working alongside Peter Kennedy, who is a vastly experienced coach, with the backs.

"But he is also looking at the mental aspects of the game, players' lifestyle including diet and preparation and making sure they have the right mindset.

"They are aspects that most other clubs wouldn't even consider. It means we can move ahead in that respect, and that work goes across the whole squad, not just the backs.

"In the future, as long as he is happy at the club, we would be looking to maximise his role and get him involved in the community and other areas.

"We are looking at starting up an academy in Bournemouth and Robert's input will be invaluable to that progress."