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'I know how Steve works': Worcester sign Russian prop Morozov
By Kim Ekin
Experienced Russia international loosehead prop Valeriy Morozov will be reunited with Steve Diamond when he joins Worcester from Bath for the 2022/23 season. Morozov was signed by Diamond when he was director of rugby at Sale Sharks in 2019 and he has made the mobile, ball-handling forward his sixth new signing ahead of succeeding Alan Solomons as Warriors director of rugby.
Morozov, 27, has been capped 33 times by Russia between his debut against Zimbabwe in Hong Kong in 2017 and facing Romania in this year's Rugby Europe Championship. "I have known Valeriy from the time I had coaching Russia and he is an exceptional athlete," said Diamond, currently the Warriors' lead rugby consultant. "He is a very humble person with a fantastic work ethic and he will be a superb addition to our squad."
Morozov, whose wife is Ukrainian, played volleyball as a youngster but successfully converted to rugby with Zelenograd, his hometown club. He had three seasons with Enisei-STM, Russia’s leading club before he had his first taste of English rugby when Diamond signed him for Sale.
Morozov was a member of the Sale side that won the Premiership Rugby Cup two years ago and after a stint playing back in Russia for CSKA Moscow, he returned to England in December when Bath signed him for the rest of the current season to replace the injured Beno Obano.
"I enjoyed playing for Steve Diamond at Sale and I am looking forward to working with him again at Worcester Warriors," Morozov said. "I know how Steve works and what he expects from his players. I'm excited to be joining the club and hope that I can help Warriors become a top-six Premiership club and one who competes regularly in the Heineken Champions Cup."
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Latest Comments
I dont believe Skelton has ever proven himself at test level tho Nick. Yep he played well against a side they scored plenty against but his record v the top sides isnt special. Good quality player but Im not as convinced about him as you seem to be, as you base most of your opinion on his local club stuff not really his test performances. His test record of 30 tests in 10 years explains itself very well. I think he is an honest performer but certainly not a top notch International player.
Go to commentsI wonder Jake, who do you think is the best fit for Australia as a coach? Not since Joe Schmidt took over as coach did Australia look any good, however, there is always this debate around not having an Aussie coach by the fans and so called pundits and old players.
Some of them are changing their minds now however, but I would love to see who you would choose. I think Joe Schmidt is an excellent coach, who puts in everything for the team he is coaching. To him, there is no such thing as being biased.
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