ESSEX Leopards coach Robert Youngblood has strengthened his squad with the addition of England’s most capped international Ronnie Baker.

The 44-year-old has collected 156 caps in an international career that lasted 18 years, culminating with a bronze medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

And Youngblood is delighted to have brought Baker to the club.

“I’m very pleased to have signed Ronnie,” said Youngblood.

“We played many years ago at Leopards and won trophies together.

“He’s a veteran who can steady the ship and it’s like having another coach on the floor.

“It’s fantastic for us that he wants to finish his career with us and hopefully he can win some trophies with us.”

Baker played three seasons with the original Leopards in the mid-1990s, winning the BBL title and the National Cup in 1996/97 season. He played for seven other BBL clubs before returning to the new-look Leopards in January 2009 as player-assistant coach and remained with them until the summer of 2010.

He also had a short spell playing for the Essex Pirates.