Dorian West joins Sale Sharks as Forwards Coach

Sale Sharks have reacted to their current plight by bringing in Dorian West as forwards coach.

The former Leicester Tigers hooker and Northampton assistant coach joins Steve Diamond’s side with immediate effect.

Diamond will be hoping the World Cup winner gives his side a boost after a difficult start to the 2018 season. Sale currently sit bottom of the table after four rounds of action. The Sharks lost their opening encounter away to Harlequins before bouncing back with a home victory against Worcester.

Consecutive defeats to Exeter and Wasps prompted Diamond to spell out a few home truths of his side. In his post-match interview to BT Sport he said “quite a lot of things we’ve done in training haven’t gone to plan”. Diamond needed something to change after claiming his side were “beaten up by the Wasps forwards”. Bringing in an experienced hand in Dorian West will certainly bolster his pack.

As a coach, West helped Northampton to the European Challenge Cup in 2009 and the LV=Cup in 2010. However, it was the 2014 Premiership title that launched his credentials as a top level coach. Working alongside former Sale coach Jim Mallinder, the forward pack at the Saints were a feared unit.

What They Said

“I’m very pleased to be here and am looking forward to the new challenge ahead, I have known Dimes for many years and he has given me a great opportunity and I can’t wait to get started.”

Sharks’ Director of Rugby Steve Diamond added:

“Dorian and I go back a long way and very rarely does a person with his qualities become available. Dorian is a proven winner as a player and a coach and he’ll make a huge improvement looking after the club’s forwards.”

With an exciting squad packed with young talent and returning stars such as Faf de Klerk, the future is bright.

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