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Former Ireland international Bell to take coaching role with Glasgow next season
By Ciarán Kennedy
Glasgow Warriors have confirmed that Gloucester assistant coach Jonny Bell will join the Scottish side for the 2020/21 season.
Bell, who was capped 36 times for Ireland, has signed a two year contract with Glasgow.
Glasgow are currently preparing for a number of changes at coaching level. Head coach Dave Rennie was confirmed as the new head coach of the Wallabies last month. He is set to end his stay in Glasgow at the end of the season to take up the role, and will be replaced by Danny Wilson at Scotstoun.
A statement released by Glasgow confirmed that Bell, 45, will focus on the Warriors' attack.
"Gloucester Assistant Coach Jonny Bell will join Glasgow Warriors next season," the statement read.
"Bell joins on a two-year contract and completes the club’s coaching group for the 2020/21 campaign.
"He will focus on the Warriors’ attack and will work alongside incoming Head Coach Danny Wilson from next summer, as well as linking up with current coaches Kenny Murray, John Dalziel and Petrus du Plessis.
"The 45-year-old has been with the English Premiership side since 2015 and helped them finish third last season.
"Bell also has experience as a Head Coach to his name, having acted as interim Head Coach of the Kingsholm outfit during the 2016/17 campaign.
"Prior to his time at Gloucester, the man from Belfast enjoyed four years as an Assistant Coach at Ulster from 2011 to 2015.
"As a player, Bell was renowned for his work ethic and commitment to his team; the hard-running centre earned 36 caps for Ireland and represented his country at two Rugby World Cups and the 1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Hong Kong.
"Bell played 96 times for Ulster and the pinnacle of his club playing career came in 1998, when he was named Man of the Match in Ulster’s Heineken Cup Final victory over Colomiers at Lansdowne Road."
Gloucester Director of Rugby David Humphreys paid tribute to his long-time colleague.
“Jonny’s been an integral part of what we’ve achieved over the past few seasons, he’s done a fantastic job turning Gloucester Rugby into one of the strongest defensive teams in the Premiership and will obviously be missed when he moves on.
“However, we understand completely why he wishes to pursue the opportunity that has come up at Glasgow and, when the time comes for him to leave the Club, we will wish him well. For now though, and with so much of the season still to play, he’ll be giving his usual 100% and leaving no stone unturned in a bid to make us better as a team.”
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