Richmond assistant coach Justin Leppitsch has left the Club to take up the senior coaching position with the Brisbane Lions.

The triple Brisbane premiership player returns to his original league club after spending the past four seasons at Richmond, in a variety of coaching roles.

Following his retirement as a player in 2006, Leppitsch had three years as an assistant coach at Brisbane, before joining Damien Hardwick at Tigerland.

“The Club would like to congratulate Justin on his appointment.  It’s a great achievement for him, and we are confident he will be a successful senior coach,” Hardwick said.

“Justin has been an important member of the coaching panel in his time at Richmond and has played a key role in fast-tracking the development of our playing list.

“This appointment is a fitting reward for his hard work and we wish him all the best in his new role.”