Worcester Warriors have today appointed Mathieu Rourre as a new Attack Coach at Sixways – as the club forges strong links with French Top 14 giants and Amlin Challenge Cup winners Biarritz Olympique.
Rourre will link up with a new-look coaching team of Head Coach Richard Hill, Forwards Coach Nigel Redman, Defence Coach Phil Larder and Assistant Forwards Coach Phil Vickery as the Warriors build towards the new 2012/13 Aviva Premiership season.
Highly-regarded Rourre, a former player with Biarritz, Paris University Club and Racing Club France, links up with the Warriors boasting a strong pedigree in European rugby. He was the French National Academy Manager between 2003 and 2008 and coached the France Under-19s between 2004 and 2007.
Rourre has spent the last four years as Academy Director at Biarritz and Club President Serge Blanco has now agreed to release him to work as a consultant to the Warriors and combine it with his work in the south of France.
Worcester Head Coach Richard Hill said: “I first met Mathieu when I went to a conference in Marcoussis with Didier Retièreand I got to know him very well. After that I went back to see him during my Bristol days and we would catch up and share ideas.
“He is right up to date on the latest techniques and play in the modern game and I used to invite him over to Bristol. He would work with us on phase play and counterattack and the players at Bristol really enjoyed it. It was a different kind of work to what we had going on and we saw real results.
“I have always kept in touch with Mathieu and this is a big opportunity to get him involved with Warriors. He will come over to work with us and then when he returns to France I will continue his work and approach to our attack play.
“His big focus is staying on your feet. You take the ball into contact and use multi-phases, but his big philosophy is staying on your feet and looking to play.
“It is a completely different approach and it will take time to bed in, but we are very excited about this opportunity and what he can add to the Warriors.”
Charlie Little, Managing Director at Warriors, added: “Richard Hill knows Mathieu well and has worked with him before in terms of an Attack Coach so was keen for him to join the Warriors and have an impact.
“Clearly it’s very advantageous to be assisted by someone not only with Mathieu’s skill set but also his international links with the French Academy.
“He has spent many years at Marcoussis in the French Academy set-up, has a good knowledge of young French talent, which is useful for future recruitment, and also knows the very latest successful playing styles and techniques employed in France.”