A recognisable face has made a sooner-than-expected return to coaching in the Premiership after Worcester Warriors announced Steve Diamond will take over as their director of rugby next season.
The news was announced on the same day that the Sixways outfit confirmed head coach Jonathan Thomas has stepped down 'with immediate effect'.
Diamond, 60, has been serving Worcester as a 'lead rugby consultant' since November 2021, a little less than 12 months after he ended an almost decade-long stint at the helm of Sale Sharks.
A return to England's top table seemed inevitable following that November announcement, but Thomas' exit from the Warriors has effectively catapulted him to become the club's defacto leader.
Former Edinburgh and Northampton Saints boss Alan Solomons remains Worcester's director of rugby, but it's now official that Diamond will replace the South African journeyman at the end of this season.
“We have a really exciting challenge in front of us and it’s one that I am relishing,” Diamond said in a statement on Tuesday.
“We have enthusiastic owners who have ambitions for the club to be established in the top six of the Gallagher Premiership and playing in the Heineken Champions Cup.
“Clearly we are not where we would like to be at the moment as a club. To achieve our ambitions, our results need to improve and changes need to be made. A key part of my role will be the recruitment of players and staff.
“Worcester is a hotbed of rugby with a fantastic core group of supporters. We want to grow that supporter base and give the city, county and region a successful and sustainable Premiership club that everyone can be proud of.”
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Diamond has agreed to take over as Warriors director on a two-year deal, which will begin when Solomons retires from coaching at the end of the 2021/22 campaign.
That's at least the case officially, with controversial Diamond sure to have a more prominent role in coaching the team between now and the end of the current term.
Former Wales international Thomas, 39, ending his playing career with Worcester and previously served as forwards and defence coach at Bristol Bears before landing the top gig at Sixways prior to the 2020/21 season.
His exit comes as the Warriors sit 12th out of 13 Premiership teams, having won three of their opening 12 league games—just two more than Bath, who won for the first time this season in January.
The departing coach was highly complimentary of his Worcester colleague after his exit was confirmed, taking to Twitter as he wrote: "Nothing but big love for the players, coaches, support staff and supporters at Worcester Warriors.
"This team is ready to take off over the next 12 months. Awesome young players coming through and I’ve really enjoyed putting some good foundations in place. JT #WarriorsFamily."
Diamond previously guided Sale to the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2020—his last full season at their helm—and made the Sharks a consistent feature in Europe's club competitions.
Warriors co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham said in a statement promoting Diamond to director of rugby was "the logical decision" and backed him to build on the "excellent platform" Solomons helped form.
