I want to coach Young linked as Humphreys leaves the club
ellis.lane@reachplc.com
DAI Young has spoken about being linked to the Gloucester Rugby job, saying he wants to get back to hands on coaching.
The Welshman left Wasps in February after nine years as director of rugby at the Premiership club.
Young, a British and Irish Lion in his playing days, said that his best role would be as a head coach rather than a director of rugby.
He told The Rugby Paper: “DOR roles come in many guises but over the last three years, since Wasps moved up to Coventry, I ended up spending the majority of my time behind a desk rather than on the field doing what I’m best at, hands-on coaching.
“It’s hard to have the impact on the team you’d like and having that contact and building relationships with players is difficult to maintain.
“Stuart Lancaster probably experienced something similar. He went into the England job wanting to coach and ended up doing more of the managerial stuff, but he’s gone to Leinster now as an out-and-out coach and it’s worked well for him.”
Gloucester will make an announcement on their new coaching set up in early July after director of rugby David Humphreys announced his departure just weeks after head coach Johan Ackermann lef to join Japanese club Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Young added: “I’m not averse to working alongside a DOR as long as there’s a coaching role because that’s my biggest strength. I can coach the forwards, scrum or defence and, as a three-time British Lion with 16 years’ experience, I need to be on the paddock.
“My understanding is Gloucester are reviewing things and they’ll find who they feel fit.
“I’m not hung-up about being in charge but my best role would be a head coach/forwards coach.”
Rob Howley has also been linked to the Gloucester job and it has been suggested that Young as director of rugby and Howley as head coach could be best option for the Cherry and Whites.
Humphreys is leaving at the end of
June. The Belfast-born 48-year-old played 72 times for Ireland, and played his club rugby for Ulster, captaining them to victory in the 1998-99 Heineken Cup.
He has also had a successful coaching career with Ulster before joining Gloucester in 2014.
Humphreys admitted that Ackermann’s departure played a part in his decision.
He said: “Following Johan Ackermann’s departure last month, I took some time to review my own position at Gloucester and in light of many new challenges facing professional rugby I felt it was the right time for me to move on and a new head coach to come in.
“Before leaving at the end of the month, I will continue to work closely with Martin (St Quinton), Lance Bradley, and the senior management team, to support the recruitment of a new head coach and to help ensure an easy transition back into training for the playing squad and staff.”
Chairman St Quinton added: “I fully respect his decision that now is the time for him to move on.”
Chief executive Lance Bradley, will now lead the hunt for a new head coach.
He said: “David has made a tremendous contribution over the last six years. We will use his departure to move into an exciting new era.”
The search for a new head coach will now be led by Bradley and the club expects to announce an appointment and the new coaching structure in early July.
“We will be talking to our shortlist over the coming weeks, and plan to make an announcement in early July.”