Worcester Warriors are pleased to announce that Defence Coach Phil Larder OBE has signed a new contract to continue his outstanding work at Sixways.
Former England and British & Irish Lions coach Larder re-joined the backroom staff at Sixways this season and has helped develop one of the meanest defences in the top-flight as Warriors have returned to the Aviva Premiership.
A highly respected coach throughout the game, Larder, part of Clive Woodward's backroom staff when England won the Rugby World Cup in 2003, enjoyed a previous coaching spell at Warriors during the 2006/2007 Premiership season.
Head Coach Richard Hill praised Larder’s massive contribution this campaign and said: “I have been absolutely delighted with the strides and work Phil has done. He has been a huge contributing factor to being where we are in the league at the current time.
“Phil had immediate respect within the squad when he came here. He is renowned in the UK as one of the best Defence Coaches around and has shown that with his work with the players.
“He has enjoyed coming back into the game and enjoyed working with the squad. He couldn’t have asked for anymore from the players and they have worked hard for him.
“Phil is working as hard as ever to make us better and more consistent. His hunger for the game is as strong as ever and he demands the highest standards and work ethic from the squad to make them even better.”
Larder's pedigree in the game is vast after playing rugby union at centre for Broughton Park in Manchester and then Sale Sharks. He then transferred to rugby league, playing for home town club Oldham and later Whitehaven.
He first coached in Rugby League, becoming Head Coach for Widnes Vikings, Keighley Cougars and Sheffield Eagles. Larder coached both England rugby league team at the 1995 World Cup and Great Britain and Ireland on the 1996 tour of New Zealand.
The tough Lancastrian has since applied his experience of League defensive patterns and techniques to the unique challenges of Union with unparalleled success.
Larder worked with Leicester during a four-year Premiership winning run and helped them to back-to-back Heineken Cup victories in 2001 and 2002.
As well as being a key influence at Welford Road, Larder helped England to the 2003 Rugby World Cup triumph and RBS Six Nations Grand Slam in 2003. Larder was also Defence Coach on the 2001 and 2005 British and Irish Lions tours.
A former Director of Coaching for Rugby League in England, Larder also spent seven years as assistant coach to the Great Britain side.
“Phil had immediate respect within the squad when he came here. He is renowned in the UK as one of the best Defence Coaches around and has shown that with his work with the players…"