Extended deal highlights how Worcester can't get enough of the wisdom of Solomons

Worcester director of rugby Alan Solomons has committed himself to the club until the end of the 2021/22 Gallagher Premiership season. Solomons’ existing contract expires at the end of next season, but he has now signed a two-year extension.

“Jason Whittingham and I both think Alan has done a great job of managing the team and rugby department since starting at Warriors,” explained Warriors co-owner Colin Goldring.

“We both support his vision and plan to achieve a sustainable top flight team with the Warriors academy at its core, supported by top-class talented and experienced players. We are delighted that Alan has signed his contract extension which ensures continuity and stability.”

Solomons joined Warriors in October 2017 as a consultant, but he was appointed director of rugby two months later. The South African helped Warriors secure their Premiership status in his first season in charge, before leading them to a record-equalling nine Premiership wins, a place in the European Challenge Cup quarter-finals and the Premiership Rugby Cup semi-finals this season.

“I’m honoured to be afforded the privilege of being part of Warriors’ continuing journey and look forward to working with Colin and Jason and all concerned to realise our vision for the club,” he said.

A former lawyer, Solomons was head coach of Western Province and the Stormers Super Rugby team, taking the Stormers to their first-ever home semi-final in 1999. He was also part of South Africa’s coaching team that guided the Springboks to a record-equalling 17 consecutive Test wins and finished third in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

Solomons won a Celtic Cup and finished a Celtic League runner-up during a three-year stint at Ulster. Following a brief period at Northampton, he was then a high performance consultant for the International Rugby Board from 2007 to 2010. In 2009 he also coached the Southern Kings in their debut match against the British and Irish Lions.

He next coached the Eastern Province Kings to three successive Division One finals, lifting the trophy in 2010 and 2012 before taking the Southern Kings into Super Rugby in 2013.

Solomons then coached Edinburgh, taking them to a first-ever European Challenge Cup final and winning back-to-back 1872 Cups against Glasgow.

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