Steve Diamond: Worcester Warriors make changes at top as Jonathan Thomas departs

Former Sale Sharks boss Steve Diamond has been appointed as Worcester Warriors’ next director of rugby and is set to begin his contract at the end of the season.

Diamond will join the Premiership club on a two-year deal, with current head coach Jonathan Thomas having departed the Sixways outfit with immediate effect.

53-year-old Diamond was brought in as 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 he 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 co-owners Colin Goldring and Jason Whittingham on the Warriors website.

“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.

“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