Northern Edition
Select Edition
Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Rumours link Steve Diamond with Northern raid

(Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

Newly-appointed Worcester Warriors director of rugby Steve Diamond has been linked with a raid on his former club Sale Sharks’ playing resources.

ADVERTISEMENT

And according to the Rugby Paper the former hooker is looking closely at his Manchester-based Premiership rivals’ South African contingent in an attempt to beef up his forward pack.

“We need to add to the pack, there isn’t enough ‘bump’ if I am honest, but everyone will be given a fair crack at the whip so we will see what we have in the next month or six weeks,” Diamond is quoted as saying.

Video Spacer

Wales coach Wayne Pivac & skipper Dan Biggar preview Six Nations

Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • Chapters
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Video Spacer

      Wales coach Wayne Pivac & skipper Dan Biggar preview Six Nations

      The story goes on to identify a number of possible targets including Jean-Luc and Dan Du Preez. In addition, hooker Akker van der Merwe, whose Scottish international brother Duhan joined Worcester from Edinburgh after playing a prominent role in the British & Irish Lions’ summer tour to the land of his birth, is named as a possible Diamond target.

      Another name mentioned was 27-year-old flanker Cameron Nield who began his career as a hooker prior to making a successful switch to the back row that has seen him make 120 appearances for the Sharks.

      Diamond, who took the reins at Worcester after last week’s departure of head coach Jonathan Thomas, was in charge of his first game last weekend when the Warriors slipped to a 13-29 home defeat to Northampton Saints.

      Even though Bath have won twice in recent weeks, he absence of relegation means perennial top flight strugglers Worcester have some breathing space in which to make some changes.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      However, Diamond is also mindful that recent big reductions to the salary cap mean he will have to concentrate on finding new talent in addition to signing established names from the Southern Hemisphere and rival Premiership clubs.

      The veteran former hooker has previously proved his ability to operate in this manner when bringing the likes of Valery Morozov and Andrei Ostrikov to Sale.

      “We have to realise that the salary cap has come down significantly and when I was recruiting three or four years ago we had a lot more money to spend and it was easier,” he said.

      “So now we have to be smart in our recruitment; find those hidden gems in the Championship or lower and even in Eastern Europe or wherever my contacts are and get them well coached.

      ADVERTISEMENT

      “I know how to do that, i am confident putting together a highly competitive squad in the competition.

      “We certainly have the full cap available to us and part of my role going forward will be to utilise that cap and decide what we can bring in.”

      ADVERTISEMENT

      KOKO Show | July 22nd | Full Throttle with Brisbane Test Review and Melbourne Preview

      New Zealand v South Africa | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      USA vs England | Men's International | Full Match Replay

      France v Argentina | World Rugby U20 Championship | Extended Highlights

      Lions Share | Episode 4

      Zimbabwe vs Namibia | Rugby Africa Cup Final | Full Match Replay

      USA vs Fiji | Women's International | Full Match Replay

      Tattoos & Rugby: Why are tattoos so popular with sportspeople? | Amber Schonert | Rugby Rising Locker Room Season 2

      Trending on RugbyPass

      Comments

      0 Comments
      Be the first to comment...

      Join free and tell us what you really think!

      Sign up for free
      ADVERTISEMENT

      Latest Features

      Comments on RugbyPass

      P
      PL 2 hours ago
      Lions Tour Aussie takes: Bigger is better, the stars who failed to fire

      I find it interesting that journalists who have done nothing in rugby comment on selections & coaching like they are experts

      Concussive injury’s will remove insurance cover from the game unless their is strict application of the laws designed to remove MND Parkinson’s and CTE from the game


      Head on head I saw red to Adam Coleman as tackler for Irish while unconscious on a stretcher - concussions occur without twitching on the ground or the wobbly boot - I know I had maybe 20 from rugby


      The officiating of last feet is non existent

      The lack of effective wrap by Lions front rower & that decision had a close relationship with ordure in a toilet

      A head on head tackle red for Coleman not even penalty lead to a try in a phase or 2


      Powys v Evans lead to a £> 2 mill verdict against the ref personally special leveraged to Hiuse of Lords

      Refs will stop reffing with no insurance then no game


      About 5 years ago 4 or 5 French colts died from head hits in elite club games - that led to below sternum law - hamlets honoured in breach not observance

      Last feet non existent - enforcement favour flowing rugby nor lions meat grinder forwards get momentum and puck & drive NZ Vowel noise


      The UK Class Action could be very well be lost WRC will try every dirty trick in case they already used dial a neuros to argue the unarguable is law gossip


      I reffed ref coached & assessed for ruffly 17 seasons


      The application of laws is like a zig zag on speed

      Line out laws not enforced scrums tight pulling loose down one side mirror on other side elbow pointing to ground stretch marks on jersey

      Der moment the refs need to go Soec Savers

      My bet unless they stop lack of intestinal fortitude game management


      Yellow every time head contact or above sternum


      Needs sterner GMGs material impact removed set piece caterpillar remove

      Last feet to last feet + 1 m


      When I reffed I kept them well apart - hated me till they got over yellow and they actually had fun & complemented me post game backs had room and pick and drive had momentum


      As for intentional foul play like tackle in air auto red no replacement 100,000 fine player 250,000 club


      Treble it for international 26 week suspension & it’s disappear over night

      25 were scrum for dissent


      Penalty all this rubbish shots at opponents after error


      All the s.ite would disappear


      The pathetic unsportsmanlike behaviour would lead to standards


      Remember Les Boyd’s penalty re Brohman -if that is the way we treat foul play but while foul play with potential serious injury with a feather duster like we are the game is destined to no insurance following that no refs cause would you risk bankruptcy like Powys v Evans

      1 Go to comments
      TRENDING
      TRENDING Finn Russell's unnerving confession about first Test win over Wallabies Finn Russell's unnerving confession