Jonathan Thomas has a new job eight months after exiting Worcester

Former Worcester head coach Jonathan Thomas has landed himself a new role eight months after he left the Warriors following the arrival of Steve Diamond at the Gallagher Premiership club. Diamond was appointed as a consultant at the end of November but had taken charge of the rugby programme just eight weeks later after Thomas decided it was best to leave the Sixways set-up.

The ex-Wales back row has since been away from the game, biding his time to get another look-in, and that opportunity has now arrived for Thomas via Championship club Ealing, who have announced the recruitment of the ex-Worcester boss.

The appointment of Thomas to assist the coaching team as a forwards consultant arose following the mutually agreed release of forwards and defence coach Glen Townson. An Ealing statement read: “Due to family reasons, Glen was looking for a role closer to his home in Bristol. Everyone at Ealing Trailfinders thanks Glen for his work at the club, both as a coach and a player, and wishes him all the best for the future.

“Meanwhile, Trailfinders are delighted to announce that Jonathan Thomas will assist the coaching team as a forwards consultant. He joins us with a wealth of experience and expertise to help improve the team. He has previously been head coach at Worcester Warriors, from 2020 up until the start of this year.

“Before that he spent four years at Bristol Bears as defence and forwards coach learning under Pat Lam. He helped the Bears achieve promotion to the Premiership and win the Challenge Cup. He took up his role at Bristol immediately after finishing his hugely successful playing career.

“He represented Swansea, Ospreys and Worcester throughout his 14-year spell as a player. He was capped 67 times by the Welsh national team, starting every game during their 2005 and 2008 Grand-Slam winning campaigns. He went to two World Cups (2003 and 2007) and appeared in every Six Nations squad between 2004 and 2011.”

Thomas said: “I’m really pleased to be here at Ealing and everyone at the club has been so welcoming, that I feel like I’ve been here for ages. From speaking to Ben Ward it just felt like a really natural fit. I have played in this league before, I have coached in this league before and so I know how tough the Championship is and I hope I can make a positive difference.”

Director of rugby Ward added: “I’m really pleased to have been able to recruit someone of Jonathan’s quality and know-how to help aid our coaching team. He is an incredibly exciting coach with Premiership experience and also the knowledge of how to get a team promoted from the Championship after being part of the Bristol staff that did so. He’s already slotted in well to our setup and I know the boys are learning a lot from him.”