Former England attack coach Brian Smith is leaving his post as director of rugby at London Irish with immediate effect, the Premiership club said Tuesday.

Smith, whose second stint with the club was supposed to run until June this year, will return to his native Australia for family reasons, a statement said.

During his first spell with London Irish, Smith took the modest club to third in the Premiership and also to a Heineken Cup semifinal against Toulouse. He then joined England's coaching team under Martin Johnson but left after the 2011 World Cup.

Since returning to London Irish in 2012, the team have failed to reach similar heights and are second from bottom, although almost certain to retain their top-flight status.

Irish are currently 20 points above Premiership bottom club and relegation favorites London Welsh, effectively ­securing their top-flight status for ­another season.