Sale Sharks bring back ex-player & coach Steve Diamond

[TRF_Cymro]

Sale Sharks have appointed former coach Steve Diamond to oversee all rugby-related matters at the club.

The 42-year-old ex-Sale player takes up his new post at Edgeley Park, having guided the Russian national side to this year's World Cup in New Zealand.

The former hooker's role will include coaching, recruitment and performance, working alongside current head coach Pete Anglesea.

Diamond, who made 290 appearances for Sale, begins his new job on 1 February.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/sale/9360163.stm​

 

[TRF_Olyy]

As I said in the rumours thread, this is good news. He's a good coach, having coached Sale and Saxons (avec Jim Mallinder) to cup wins, and getting Russia to their first ever WC.

"More exciting announcements to come" said Dave Swanton (media guy at Sale) - Hopefully it's some decent signings + resigning some of the out of contract players (most of the home grown/academy players contracts are up this season i.e Tom Brady, Gaskell, Forster, Will Cliff - Along with Peel, Bell, Cohen, Tait, Chris Jones, Paul Williams, Karena Wihongi, and with the exception of Tait, we need them all)
Wouldn't be surprised to see Peel try and get into a Welsh team though, especially after Gatland said the thing about English teams players may be left out of the squad - If he signed for (for example) Dragons, then he'd be able to play for Wales earlier, as I presume he's free at the end of the season (which for Sale will be May)

 

[TRF_Olyy]

I didn't realise that Diamond (up until signing up for this role) was still head of recruitment at Northampton, and was the guy to tempt Ashton and Myler over to Union
Seem's he certainly has an eye for talent