WORCESTER Warriors have appointed David Drake as the club’s new Head of Performance and Head of Strength and Conditioning.

Drake will arrive at Sixways ahead of the 2021/22 season from Ulster Rugby where he has worked for 11 years and is currently Senior Athletic Performance Coach. Drake was Ireland Under-20s Lead Strength & Conditioning Coach between 2011 and 2012.

“When you talk about the direction a club is going in a lot of discussion is centred on the recruitment of players or coaches,” said Head Coach Jonathan Thomas.

“What sometimes goes under the radar is the appointments in the S&C department. If your players are not conditioned in the way that you need them to be it doesn’t matter how good a coach you are you won’t achieve your goals. There is room for huge growth in this team and the club.

“David has unbelievable knowledge and he is going to transform our S&C department.

"We want to be a top six club but you can’t be a top six club if you are not conditioned properly. David Drake is going to be a high-class appointment for us, coming in and bringing alignment to all the departments and, in terms of high performance, taking us to another level.”

Drake, who has also worked with Ireland’s women’s hockey team and the Irish Institute of Sport, is looking forward to joining the backroom staff at Sixways.

“I have been blown away by the vision this club has and the people involved. I am very much looking forward to supporting the players and support staff to make progress next season,” he said.

“In what has been a time of change for the club, I am excited to help Alan Solomons, JT and the wider support staff to develop the best possible environment and programme we can.

“For me that work will begin this pre-season where we have an opportunity to prepare this exciting squad for a successful season.”

Drake will succeed Johan Pretorius who has left his role as Warriors’ Head of Performance by mutual agreement.

“David is an outstanding S&C coach, who has all the credentials to head up our Performance Department,” said Director of Rugby Solomons.

“He is the ideal fit for us and I believe that there will be great synergy between him, JT and the other coaches.

“We are indeed most fortunate to have secured such a good replacement for Johan Pretorius, who did such a great job for us here at Sixways. We thank Johan for his invaluable contribution and wish him all the best for the future.”