GLASGOW have begun the search for an assistant coach to replace Jonny Bell, who is leaving at the end of the season for Worcester. The former Ireland international joined Danny Wilson’s team as attack coach last summer, but at Worcester he will revert to being a defence coach, the role he held for five years with Gloucester.
The move back to the west of England means that Bell and his family can resume life in Cheltenham, where they were happily settled before his appointment to his current job. “It is with sadness that I have had to make this decision," Bell said on the Warriors website.
"After what has been an incredibly challenging year, it has underlined the fact that my family’s happiness is more important than anything.
“My family have struggled to settle in a new city under the very difficult circumstances that Covid has created, and I am fortunate to have been given the opportunity to take them back to a place they have regarded as home for the past six years. This move also affords me the opportunity to work once again with Alan Solomons and be part of his exciting plans for Worcester Warriors. I will continue to give my total commitment to the club for the remainder of the season and they have my very best wishes for the future.”
Wilson, who took over as head coach at Scotstoun last June, said he understood Bell’s reasons for leaving. “Thank you to Jonny for his excellent and hard work this season, particularly having moved his family to a new city in very difficult circumstances,” he said.
“As a club we recognise family comes first, and though it is a shame to lose Jonny we are completely supportive of this move.”
THIS year’s Under-20s Six Nations Championship will be held from 19 June to 13 July, with all matches being held at Cardiff Arms Park. There will be five match days, in each of which three games will be played consecutively.
Scotland and Ireland will kick off the tournament, followed by England v France then Wales v Italy. Match-day squads will consist of 26 players, and every game will be either on terrestrial TV or streamed.
U20s SIX NATIONS FIXTURES Sat 19 June: Scotland v Ireland 2pm, England v France 5pm, Italy v Wales 8pm.
Fri 25 June: England v Scotland 2pm, Italy v France 5pm, Wales v Ireland 8pm.
Thurs 1 July: Scotland v Italy 2pm, France v Wales 5pm, Ireland v England 8pm.
Wed 7 July: Italy v Ireland 2pm, France v Scotland 5pm, Wales v England 8pm.
Tues 13 July: England v Italy 2pm, Ireland v France 5pm, Scotland v Wales 8pm.
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