Easter confirmed as new coach at Worcester

WORCESTER Warriors have appointed former England No.8 Nick Easter as the club’s new defence and forwards coach.

Easter will arrive at Sixways ahead of the 2022/23 from Newcastle where he is defence coach. He will take over the defence coach role from Jonny Bell, who is re-joining Ulster, and take on the forwards duties previously held by Jonathan Thomas, who left Warriors in January.

“Nick will be a huge addition to our management team,” said Steve Diamond, Warriors lead rugby consultant. “He has vast playing experience at the highest level and he has served an excellent coaching apprenticeship at Harlequins, Sharks and Newcastle.

“I’ve been very impressed with his mentality of how he wants us to play moving forward. He is very ambitious and his forthright approach will complement our coaching team.”

Easter, 43, has played and coached against sides coached by Diamond for almost 20 years and is now looking forward to working with him for the first time.

“I have always appreciated and respected what Dimes has done in the game particularly at Sale and how he has built that club up a couple of times,” he said.

“They were struggling, he went back there when they probably didn’t have the resources that they have now.

“He can get the best out of a group of players and individuals in terms of managing potential. He understands what it takes to win games of rugby, particularly in the Premiership.”

Dean Richards will step down as director of rugby at Newcastle Falcons at the end of this season, as revealed on Blindside last month.

Richards, 58, who will be succeeded by Dave Walder, will continue to work with the club in a part-time consultancy role.

Mark Laycock, Micky Ward and Scott MacLeod will retain their roles within the coaching staff with former England back row Mark Wilson believed to be joining the team.