In an extraordinary turn of events, Jonathan Thomas has left Worcester Warriors with “immediate effect”.
It has also been confirmed by the club that current Lead Rugby consultant Steve Diamond will take over as Director of Rugby from Alan Solomons at the end of the season.
Diamond was appointed Lead Rugby Consultant in November and he will continue in that capacity for the remainder of this season before succeeding Alan Solomons as Director of Rugby when Solomons retires from coaching at the end of June.
Diamond will take charge of the rugby programme immediately with Solomons providing support as needed.
“Having taken the time to work with Steve in his role as a Lead Rugby Consultant it was the logical decision to offer him the role as Director of Rugby for the next two seasons,” said Warriors co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham.
“Steve is an experienced and proven Director of Rugby with the qualities needed to take the club to the next level and achieve our ambitions of competing at the top end of the Premiership.
“We have invested a great deal into ensuring we have all the right ingredients for the club to reach its full potential.
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“We have unwavering confidence in the strength of the players and the ability of the club to achieve that goal. We will continue to do everything we can to achieve it.
“Alan has built an excellent platform for Steve to take things to the next level and achieve the full potential this club has to offer.
“Alan arrived in a consultancy role four years ago and his recruitment philosophy to develop and invest in a core of home-grown Worcester players and supplement them with x-factor talent has led to the development and retention of an exciting group of young players with more now coming through behind them in the academy.”
“I Love My Pub” – The Other Jobs Of Five England Internationals
#1. JACK NOWELL – CLOTHES & PUB
The England and Exeter Chiefs winger is the co-owner of The Swordfish Inn back in his hometown of Penzance in Cornwall. Sitting on the harbourfront, the pub has been a favourite of local fishermen, artists and visitors alike for as long as anyone cares to remember and is well-known for its rugged charm and atmosphere.
“I remember being down there as a kid with my dad and I just remember it being so rammed and seeing everyone like a family,” says Nowell.
“When I got old enough and started drinking, it got a bit quiet and fizzled out a bit, and I was then in a position where I could afford to buy it, so me and Mark and Nick George bought it together. They’re two guys that run pubs down in Cornwall and they’re very, very good at what they do, so I mentioned (my plans) to them one day and they were really keen to do it with me. I’m trying to build it slowly into what it used to be like.”
He is also a director of MUSTARD Clothing.
