Warriors have appointed Steve Diamond as the club’s Lead Rugby Consultant to lend his considerable experience and expertise to the existing coaching team at Sixways.
Diamond, who has an impressive track record at international and Gallagher Premiership level, will join Warriors on Monday November 29 and will be senior member of the rugby department, reporting to Director of Rugby Alan Solomons and the Board of Directors.
“Steve is a strong addition to our coaching team and we believe that his proven track record, most recently as Director of Rugby of Sale Sharks, will complement the existing skill sets within our rugby management and coaching teams to help us improve performances,” said Warriors co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham.
“This is an additional appointment to our existing rugby management team and Steve will be working closely with our Director of Rugby, Alan Solomons, and Head Coach Jonathan Thomas.
“Steve will review all aspects of the rugby programme, advise on changes where needed and also help with player recruitment for next season.
“The Premiership is the toughest rugby competition in the world and small margins can make a big difference in the heat of a game.
“The club has the benefit of an excellent group of players, coaches and backroom staff who are all aligned in their vision and ambition.
“We believe that adding someone with Steve’s experience will enable us to identify the missing ingredients needed to realise the true potential of this team.”
Diamond’s appointment has been welcomed by Thomas, a former Warriors captain, who returned to Sixways as Forwards Coach in the summer of 2020 and was promoted to Head Coach in January this year.
“We are looking forward to welcoming Steve to the Warriors Family,” Thomas said.
“I have had some great meetings and conversations with Steve over the last few weeks.
“He is vastly experienced in a wide range of aspects of the game and I believe that his experience and skill set will add to and complement the foundations we have already put in place.
“As Head Coach I will still manage and lead the High Performance Department and be responsible for the preparation of the team and the coaching programme, reporting to Steve, the Lead Rugby Consultant, which I’m really excited about and can’t wait to get started.”
Diamond made more than 350 appearances for Sale as a hooker in a career that spanned the amateur and professional eras and toured Argentina and Australia with England in 1997.
He made a smooth transition to coaching, forming a coaching team at Sale with his former team-mate Jim Mallinder in 2001.
Diamond and Mallinder then took charge of England Saxons for the 2002 and 2003 Churchill Cups before Diamond took charge of Saracens for two seasons from 2004 and 2006.
He coached the Russian national side between 2010 and 2011, where he worked with Solomons, who was then High Performance Consultant for the International Rugby Board.
“Steve, will add huge value to our existing coaching staff,” Solomons said.
“I worked with Steve when he was Head Coach of Russia and I was heading up the IRB’s High Performance programme.
“He is a shrewd and experienced coach. We worked well together and I look forward to welcoming him to Sixways.”
Having helped Russia to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Diamond returned to Sale in 2011, initially as Director of Sport before being appointed Director of Rugby the following year.
Sale won the Premiership Rugby Cup in 2019/20, Diamond’s last full season in charge at the AJ Bell Stadium and also qualified for the Heineken Champions Cup five times.
Diamond stepped down from that role 11 months ago following the death of his mother and for other family reasons and now joins the Warriors.
“I met with Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham and they impressed me as two very enthusiastic owners who want to build on the legacy that Cecil Duckworth, who was someone I knew reasonably well, left,” Diamond said.
“After a year out of the game I’m delighted to be coming in to assist Solly and to work with JT to help improve results.
“The first couple of weeks, after I start a week on Monday, will be about assessing where we are and where we need to tighten things up.
“The first objective will be to ensure that we become a difficult team to beat but we have an exciting back line that, when all are fit, can challenge any in the Premiership.”