Front rowers compete for Deacon’s job at Cov

TWO former Premiership front rowers are understood to be in the running for the Coventry forwards coach job.

A vacancy has arisen at the Butts Park Arena following Louis Deacon’s departure to take on the forwards role with England Women.

Former prop Brett Sturgess, 39, who made 101 Premiership appearances for Exeter and Northampton, and former England hooker Andy Long are in the running.

After a spell at Ampthill, Kettering-born Sturgess joined his hometown club, also as player-coach, and then stepped up to head coach before leading them to promotion in Midlands One East in 2019.

Sturgess appears to be facing competition from Long, who spent three years as throwing coach at Worcester until his agreement with the club expired in 2020.

Long, 43, who played for Northampton, Munster, Newcastle and Bath, made over 200 Premiership appearances and won two caps for England.

His coaching career began at Cambridge RUFC where he was appointed as forwards coach in 2011 and he then went on to enjoy seven years as head coach/director of rugby at Bishop’s Stortford.

Meanwhile, the 40year-old former Leicester Tigers lock Deacon, right, capped 29 times by England, spent four years building up his coaching experience in the Championship and takes over from Mark Luffman at the Red Roses. Prior to his stint with Coventry, Deacon had coaching roles with England men’s U20s, the Spanish national team and in the Leicester Tigers community department.

“It’s a big year for the Red Roses coming up with Rugby World Cup in 2022 and I can’t wait to get started and help build towards that,” Deacon said.