Former Worcester head coach to join Ospreys

Ospreys have announced the appointment of former Worcester Warriors head coach Carl Hogg as forwards coach at the region from next season.

A highly experienced coach with a wealth of experience in the English Premiership, Hogg is currently boss of the Scotland age-grade side and will link up with the Ospreys for pre-season, after taking the young Scots to the World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina this June.

Hogg said: “I am delighted to be joining Allen and the Ospreys and look forward to working hard and contributing towards the success of this Ospreys team. It is a fantastic opportunity to work with quality people, outstanding players and an organisation which shares the same values as me.

“Having operated as a coach in England for over 15 years, I am excited by the different challenges which lie ahead in the Guinness PRO14 and adapting to this multi-nation competition.”

Ospreys head coach Allen Clarke added: “I’m delighted that a person with the values and experience of Hoggy has agreed to join our coaching team.

“For some time we’ve been looking for an additional quality coach to work with the forwards to complement the excellent work Duncan Jones does with the scrum. Hoggy will have specific responsibility for the lineout whilst co-coaching other aspects of the game.

“Our lineout this season has again been a strength and I’d like to compliment Bradley Davies and the other lineout leaders for their quality input. However, I’ve no doubt Hoggy’s expertise together with that of the boys will take us to another level as we strive to become better in all facets of the game.”

Capped five times by Scotland as a player in a career that saw him represent Melrose and Leeds Carnegie with distinction, Hogg cut his coaching teeth at the Headingley-based club alongside former England boss and current Leinster coach Stuart Lancaster.

After spells at London Welsh and Edinburgh, Hogg joined Gloucester, initially to head up the academy in 2006, before being appointed as forwards coach, adding defence to his responsibilities over a seven-year spell at Kingsholm.

In 2013 he joined Worcester where he spent five years as head coach, overseeing a promotion back to the Premiership in 2015. He left Sixways last summer to join the SRU, working with the forwards on the summer tour to Canada, USA and Argentina, before taking the reins of his country’s U20 team.