Gloucester shop local for new scrum coach

Gloucester’s search for a new scrum coach appears to have come to an end with former Prem prop Ryan Bower understood to have been appointed as Trevor Woodman’s replacement.

RWC 2003 winner Woodman has chosen to leave Kingsholm after 12 years as a player and coach to join Stuart Lancaster’s backroom team at URC outfit Connacht, and they have now turned to Bower.

Working to a limited rugby budget, Gloucester’s rugby management were unable to cast the net far and wide in their search for a new scrum coach and have opted to go with someone right on their doorstep.

Gloucester’s posted a £2.9m loss for 2024/25, a six-fold increase on the previous year, and the club’s owner Martin St Quinton is believed to be reluctant to dig any deeper into his pockets and spend up to the £6.4 million salary cap.

Nuneaton-born Bower has been coaching at neighbouring Hartpury RFC in the Champ, as well as working with the College’s U17 team and Gloucester’s academy as a scrum and breakdown specialist.

Previously, he was lead forwards coach at the now defunct RFU Midlands West Academy, who he joined after a spell at Royal Grammar School, Worcester.

Bower, aged 35, retired from playing in 2022, after a 12-year pro career. He played for Leicester, Worcester and London Irish in the Prem, making nearly 200 appearances, before seeing out his career in America at the Dallas Jackals.

He joins a rejigged Gloucester coaching team, which includes his former Leicester teammate, Brett Deacon, who has moved to the West Country club from the Tigers this summer to take up the position of forwards coach.

Alongside Deacon, Gloucester have also welcomed Joel Tomkins as defence coach, following the decision to appoint Dom Waldouck as the club’s new head of player development.

Up top, Chris Boyd is on board as technical director and Rob Burgess has switched to Gloucester from Bath as the club’s general manager, allowing George Skivington to return to a more hands-on role as head coach.