FORMER RGC head coach Mark Jones has joined the coaching staff at English Premiership side Worcester Warriors.

The experienced figure played a lading role during his time with the Gogs’, establishing them as an Indigo Group Premiership force and guiding their to their first-ever WRU National Cup victory on a memorable day at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.

After departing Stadiwm Zip World in Colwyn Bay, Jones spent some time coaching in New Zealand with the Crusaders, where spearheaded their charge to a Super Rugby Aotearoa title.

Current Covid-19 restrictions prevented Jones from returning to the southern hemisphere for the new campaign, leaving him with no option other than to depart the club officially this week when his contract expired.

He was not out of work for long, with Jones accepting an offer to become a senior assistant coach at Worcester, which he will take up with immediate effect.

Jones, said: “Once it became clear that I would not be able to go back to Canterbury because of the quarantine situation, things happened very quickly with Warriors.

“I was made aware that Alan Solomons was looking for someone to fill a key position in the coaching team and would I be interested.

“I came up, had a look around the facilities and had a chat with Alan about his thoughts for the project, to meet the coaching group and get a feel for the place.

“Once I did that it was pretty clear that it was a very exciting prospect hence my interest. I know the coaches there, they are great men and I could see myself working well with them and dove-tailing with them.

“The owners have got a real ambition to have a steady but sustainable growth over the next few years based around great facilities, a young squad underpinned by the academy and a forward-looking mentality which aligned well with myself.

“I have been fortunate under the current circumstances to find something that aligns as well as it has done.”

Jones will link up again with former Wales team-mate Jonathan Thomas in the coaching team at Sixways.