Vickery joins Warriors

Worcester Warriors have appointed two-time Lions tourist Phil Vickery as their assistant forwards coach. [more]

Vickery joins Warriors

Worcester Warriors have appointed two-time Lions tourist Phil Vickery as their assistant forwards coach.

The 2003 England World Cup winner will work under fellow former Red Rose star Nigel Redman, who was appointed as Richard Hill's forwards coach last week.

It is Vickery's first real involvement back in rugby since he was forced to retire in 2010 following a serious neck injury but he had enjoyed an illustrious career on the pitch.

The former Gloucester and London Wasps prop played for England 73 times and toured Australia and South Africa with the Lions in 2001 and 2009 respectively.

"I've had the chance to try out a variety of new projects since I retired," said Devon-born Vickery.

"But rugby has always been my first love and I've kept in close touch with the game.

"I know Hilly well from my Gloucester days and I've worked with Phil Larder and Nigel Redman before, so it's a coaching team I feel very comfortable joining.

"Throughout my career I've always been driven to succeed and, with the Premiership as competitive as ever, it is important that everybody at Worcester pulls together to keep moving the club up the table."

Vickery played in three World Cups and captained England at the World Cup in France in 2007. He will bring a wealth of experience to Sixways as the ambitious Aviva Premiership outfit aim to establish themselves as genuine contenders for a Heineken Cup spot.

"Phil's reputation in the game goes before him," said Hill.

"He will give us huge technical knowledge and ability in the scrum having only recently finished playing at the very highest level. He demands excellence and is a winner.

"When we first spoke he wanted to know what were Worcester's ambitions – were we determined, once and for all, to move up the league and be a powerful force in English rugby."

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