Newcastle defence coach Wells to leave club after eight years for new role in Italy

Newcastle Falcons defence coach John Wells is to leave the club following eight years of service in order to take up a new position in Italy.

The Falcons have confirmed that Wells has agreed to join Italian club Rugby Colorno as defence coach.

Wells joined Newcastle in 2012 and served as forwards coach and head coach before becoming defence coach for the Falcons.

Wells helped steer Newcastle back into the Gallagher Premiership before taking on his new challenge in Italy.

Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards said: "John has made an outstanding contribution to the club over the past eight years, and leaves with our sincere thanks and best wishes.

"Defence has been one of the cornerstones of our return to the Gallagher Premiership, and the foundations that John has helped to lay will stand us in good stead for when rugby eventually resumes.

"I have been closely associated with John in one form or another for well over 30 years, both as a player and coach, and I know he will make a success of his new challenge over in Italy."

Looking back on his time with Newcastle, Wells said: “I have had eight fantastic seasons at the Falcons.

“It has been a vibrant and challenging few years with some very memorable performances - most notably at my old club Leicester, which saw us qualify for 2017/18 Premiership play-offs. We became only the second team to beat Toulon at home in the Champions Cup a year later, and most recently over in Jersey in February we produced an almost-perfect team performance in atrocious conditions.

"I’ve been coaching in the Premiership or at international level now for over 22 years and I wanted an opportunity to do something a little different, so I am going to join up with Nick Scott, Stefano Cantoni and Christian Prestera at Rugby Colorno in Italy.

“Nick and I played together in the same Newark team way back in 1981, and have kept in touch. Nick took on the director of rugby role a couple of seasons ago and got Colorno promoted to Italy’s Top 12 in his first season - they are a very ambitious club with a huge community game and I will be helping to coach the first team, U18, U16 and women’s squads.”