Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
NZ NZ

With 20 players gone, Worcester create new role to aid recruitment

By Liam Heagney
(Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images for EPCR)

Fresh from releasing 20 players from their roster for the upcoming 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season, Worcester have appointed Simon Norris as their first-ever recruitment analyst in the hope that they can start moving on from their twelfth place finish in last season’s league campaign.

ADVERTISEMENT

That finish at the bottom on the Premiership would in previous seasons have resulted in the Warriors dropping into the Championship, but a moratorium has been placed on relegation to allow struggling clubs such as Worcester to get their house in better order to ensure they are more competitive when the trapdoor is reopened in 2024 with that year’s bottom Premiership club taking on the Championship winners in a playoff.

Norris has arrived at Sixways from Bristol Bears where he was Pat Lam’s senior performance analyst having previously spent seven years at Exeter as their head performance analyst. The Welsh Rugby Union level three coach has also worked at Scarlets and Dragons in his native Wales.

Video Spacer

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns

Video Spacer

What sacrifice means to the Black Ferns

Worcester boss Jonathan Thomas is hoping his fellow countryman will now unearth talented players below the Premiership and in leagues across the world who can be nurtured and developed by Warriors.

“Part of our vision is to develop home-grown players but the recruitment of players from outside our Academy is as important,” said Thomas on the Worcester club website. “Our signing of Duhan van der Merwe and Rory Sutherland are both big statements of where we want to go, but underneath that there are also players that we have signed from the Championship like Kyle Hatherell, Jack Johnson and Jay Tyack.

“But it’s not just about X-factor players. It’s about being smart with our recruitment and uncovering the little gems that are always out there. They may be late developers or players that have stagnated at another club or whose development is being blocked by other players. Simon has good knowledge of the game. He is a very hard worker and his remit will be to take our recruitment to another level.

“He will be looking at the Championship and other leagues around the world and because he is an analyst as well, he can bring good data to the role. We are excited about his appointment and, like all aspects of the rugby department, we are looking to take each to another level.”

ADVERTISEMENT

 

ADVERTISEMENT

Join free

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | Episode 6

Sam Warburton | The Big Jim Show | Full Episode

Japan Rugby League One | Sungoliath v Eagles | Full Match Replay

Japan Rugby League One | Spears v Wild Knights | Full Match Replay

Boks Office | Episode 10 | Six Nations Final Round Review

Aotearoa Rugby Podcast | How can New Zealand rugby beat this Ireland team

Beyond 80 | Episode 5

Rugby Europe Men's Championship Final | Georgia v Portugal | Full Match Replay

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

T
Trevor 2 hours ago
Will forgotten Wallabies fit the Joe Schmidt model?

Thanks Brett.. At last a positive article on the potential of Wallaby candidates, great to read. Schmidt’s record as an international rugby coach speaks for itself, I’m somewhat confident he will turn the Wallaby’s fortunes around …. on the field. It will be up to others to steady the ship off the paddock. But is there a flaw in my optimism? We have known all along that Australia has the players to be very competitive with their international rivals. We know that because everyone keeps telling us. So why the poor results? A question that requires a definitive answer before the turn around can occur. Joe Schmidt signed on for 2 years, time to encompass the Lions tour of 2025. By all accounts he puts family first and that’s fair enough, but I would wager that his 2 year contract will be extended if the next 18 months or so shows the statement “Australia has the players” proves to be correct. The new coach does not have a lot of time to meld together an outfit that will be competitive in the Rugby Championship - it will be interesting to see what happens. It will be interesting to see what happens with Giteau law, the new Wallaby coach has already verbalised that he would to prefer to select from those who play their rugby in Australia. His first test in charge is in July just over 3 months away .. not a long time. I for one wish him well .. heaven knows Australia needs some positive vibes.

21 Go to comments
B
Bull Shark 6 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

Of the rugby I’ve born witness to in my lifetime - 1990 to date - I recognize great players throughout those years. But I have no doubt the game and the players are on average better today. So I doubt going back further is going to prove me wrong. The technical components of the game, set pieces, scrums, kicks, kicks at goal. And in general tactics employed are far more efficient, accurate and polished. Professional athletes that have invested countless hours on being accurate. There is one nation though that may be fairly competitive in any era - and that for me is the all blacks. And New Zealand players in general. NZ produces startling athletes who have fantastic ball skills. And then the odd phenomenon like Brooke. Lomu. Mcaw. Carter. Better than comparing players and teams across eras - I’ve often had this thought - that it would be very interesting to have a version of the game that is closer to its original form. What would the game look like today if the rules were rolled back. Not rules that promote safety obviously - but rules like: - a try being worth 1 point and conversion 2 points. Hence the term “try”. Earning a try at goals. Would we see more attacking play? - no lifting in the lineouts. - rucks and break down laws in general. They looked like wrestling matches in bygone eras. I wonder what a game applying 1995 rules would look like with modern players. It may be a daft exercise, but it would make for an interesting spectacle celebrating “purer” forms of the game that roll back the rules dramatically by a few versions. Would we come to learn that some of the rules/combinations of the rules we see today have actually made the game less attractive? I’d love to see an exhibition match like that.

29 Go to comments
FEATURE
FEATURE Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me' Luke Cowan-Dickie: 'I didn’t feel right. I felt like I was going to pass out. Everything was going black in front of me'
Search