Rugby Bears boss hails addition of ‘exceptional coach’ Walder
DAVE Walder will join Bristol Bears as senior backs and attack skills coach ahead of the 2023-24 season in a massive boost to Pat Lam’s backroom staff.
Walder, 44, comes in to replace Conor McPhillips at Bristol who is expected to return to his former club Connacht.
The former Newcastle Falcons head coach has established a reputation as one of the brightest young coaches in the game during his time at Kingston Park. Walder, who scored more than 1,000 Premiership points as a player for Wasps and Newcastle, spent four seasons as backs and attack coach at Kingston Park before stepping into the head coach role.
Walder was put on gardening leave at Falcons in March after a reported falling out with the club’s rugby board after number of his best players, including hooker George McGuigan, were allowed to leave the club. Walder stepped up to lead the rugby coaching department a Newcaslte throughout this campaign following the departure of director of rugby Dean Richards at the end of last season.
Pat Lam, Bristol’s director of rugby, said: “With Conor moving on at the end of the season, we’re delighted to be able to bring someone of Dave’s calibre into the coaching team. He is an exceptional coach who has already amassed a huge amount of experience and respect in the Premiership, both as a backs and attack coach and more recently, as head coach at Newcastle Falcons.
“He has an excellent understanding of the game, a great rapport with the players and I believe he will add huge value to the Bears on and off the field.”
Walder added: “I’m hugely excited by this opportunity and can’t wait to get started with the Bears. I know how ambitious this club is and look forward to contributing to the vision and long-term success at Ashton Gate.
“Knowing Pat well from my playing days at Newcastle, I’m looking forward to working with him and the rest of the coaching staff.
“It’s a talented group of players with a wrld-class training facility, so I’m relishing the challenges ahead.”
The 41-year-old has previously worked as Worcester Warriors Academy forwards and transition coach and assistant coach at Championship side Cornish Pirates, for whom the former backrower made 227 appearances and spent four seasons as captain.
Bristol have also confirmed former Bristol player Chris Morgan will join the club as assistant forwards coach in June.
Morgan will assist newly appointed senior forwards coach Mark Irish, who will step up from scrum coach to replace the outgoing John Muldoon.
Burnham-on-Sea-born Morgan played for Bristol between 2000 and 2006 and worked with Irish at Worcester where he was the Warriors’ scrum and assistant forwards coach until 2022.
Morgan said: “To fulfil the role of Bears assistant forwards coach is a massive honour that I am privileged to take on.
“I am excited by the challenges ahead and supporting the growth of the players.”