Jonathan Thomas to rejoin Worcester as forwards coach
Worcester Warriors' Jonathan Thomas rallies his team during the Aviva Premiership match at the Sixways Stadium, Worcester.
Ex-Worcester Warriors captain Jonathan Thomas is to return to Sixways as forwards coach for the 2020/2021 season. The former Wales flanker will take over the forwards coaching from Rory Duncan, who departs from the club by mutual agreement at the end of the current season.
Thomas is currently forwards coach at Bristol Bears and a member of the coaching team under director of rugby Pat Lam that has guided them to the top of the Premiership.
Thomas made 44 appearances for Warriors between 2013 and 2015 before retiring. He has since made a smooth transition into coaching, joining Bristol as defence and forwards coach in 2016 before moving into his current role last year.
“JT shares the passion and ambition we all have for Warriors to become a successful Premiership club,” said Warriors’ director of rugby Alan Solomons.
“He was a popular and respected captain of the club and is excited by the prospect of returning to Sixways and working with a talented squad, particularly the outstanding crop of youngsters that we have coming through.
“JT played at the highest level, winning 67 caps for Wales, and he also had a long and distinguished club career with Ospreys and Warriors.
“Since ending his playing career, JT has become an exceptional forwards coach and has had the advantage of working under the tutelage of Pat Lam for the last three years.
“I have known JT since 2017 when we worked together during the time I was employed as a consultant at Bristol. He is a fantastic bloke, an outstanding leader and an exceptionally gifted young coach.
“He is passionate, ambitious and enthusiastic and will be a great asset to the club. I am really looking forward to working with him again.”
📢| @JonThom82 will leave #BristolBears at the end of the season.
We wholeheartedly support JT's decision and wish him the very best for the future 👊
— Bristol Bears 🐻 (@BristolBears) November 20, 2019
As well as his achievements with Bristol, former Wales international Thomas linked up with Pat Lam as part of the Barbarians coaching team in 2018 and 2019.
Bristol boss Lam added: “JT is an excellent team man and an outstanding young coach. Everybody at Bristol Bears values his effort and contribution to the club over the past four seasons.
“JT’s development has been superb – he’s shown fantastic growth as a coach and as a person. I’m sad to lose him, but pleased he will have more family time and that he’ll be joining my good friend Solly at Worcester who will continue to oversee his development into a future world-class head coach.
“It takes a strong character to make tough decisions, but I’m really pleased that JT has put his wife Laura and children Kobi, Maya and Rudy at the forefront of his decision. We support JT wholeheartedly and completely understand his reasons for doing so.
“Our culture is about love and respecting one another. JT has contributed massively to our vision and he can always be proud of the part that he played in the Bristol Bears story.
“Until his departure at the end of the campaign, JT remains an integral member of the coaching group as we strive as one team to achieve our season goals.”