Worcester have acted swiftly to confirm Dean Ryan as their new director of rugby following the departure of head coach Richard Hill.
Ryan, who has coached and played at international level, will take charge at Sixways after the final match of the season, which is at London Welsh on May 4. He will be unveiled three days later.
The 46-year-old was part of the Scotland coaching team during this season’s Six Nations, where he helped to steer the side to back-to-back victories for the first time in 12 years and, with it, their highest finish for seven years. Over the last four years he has also been a regular pundit for Sky Sports.
Ryan also had four successful years at Gloucester between 2005-09 where he twice steered the Cherry and Whites to the top of the Premiership table only to miss out on the title in the end of season play-offs in 2007 and 2008.
That Gloucester side was built on a foundation of home-grown players and although they won the European Challenge Cup in his first year in charge, the perception remained that they hadn't quite fulfilled their potential having come close in both the Premiership and Heineken Cup.
During his playing days as a number eight, Ryan won four England caps and enjoyed spells at Saracens, Wasps, Newcastle and Bristol.
