Hogg quits Gloucester for Worcester head coach role

Carl Hogg was interim head coach of Gloucester for the final three games of the 201112 season. Picture: Getty

Former Scotland international Hogg has spent the past seven years with the Cherry and Whites, where he held the role of forwards coach, but felt the chance to take up his first head coach position was too good to turn down.

Hogg’s switch, which was revealed by The Scotsman two weeks ago, reunites him with former Gloucester coach Dean Ryan, who was recently named as the Warriors’ new director of rugby following the departure of Richard Hill.

Ryan left his post as interim Scotland forwards coach to join Worcester in April. It is believed that Hogg turned down an approach from the SRU to coach Edinburgh and has chosen to continue his career in the Aviva Premiership.

A statement from Worcester said: “Hugely respected by Gloucester’s players, coaching team and supporters, Hogg has been a strong foundation and influence at Kingsholm during his seven years. His responsibility included taking temporary charge of Gloucester for the final three games of the 2011/12  season following the departure of Bryan Redpath.”

Ryan added: “It is vital we build a strong coaching team and reputation here at Warriors and so I’m delighted to be able to reunite my relationship with Carl Hogg at the Warriors.

“We spent several seasons working closely together at Kingsholm and Carl has played an important and influential role in all that Gloucester Rugby has achieved in recent years.

“He brings a level of expertise and detail which will enhance Worcester Warriors and all that we do going forward. The combination of Shane Howarth and Carl Hogg is an exciting one and they will complement each other extremely well. I know Carl is excited by this opportunity in his career and we are looking forward to the 2013/14 season and the challenges ahead.”

Worcester have paid compensation to Gloucester in order to get their man, as Hogg still had a year remaining on his contract at Kingsholm.

The 43-year-old former Melrose back-row forward won five caps for his country during his playing career before moving into coaching after hanging up his boots in 2003. He worked alongside England head coach Stuart Lancaster and Tony Stanger at the Leeds academy before leaving to study sports coaching at Brunel University and coach the London Welsh forwards. Sir Ian McGeechan, then SRU director of rugby, later offered him an assistant coach role with Frank Hadden at Edinburgh.

The Borderer continued working with Todd Blackadder when Hadden moved to the Scotland post and, in 2006, was persuaded by Ryan to join him and Redpath at Gloucester.

He initially worked with the academy before being promoted to the role of forwards coach.

Hogg, a nephew of former Scotland coach Jim Telfer, has stated that he wishes to accumulate experience at as high a level outside Scotland before returning to be involved with the national set-up.

On his new appointment, the Scot said: “I have been presented with an exciting opportunity to move forward in my coaching career as head coach at Worcester Warriors. It is a fantastic new challenge and I look forward to the season ahead at Sixways and, of course, the local derbies between Worcester Warriors and Gloucester.”

Worcester had previously announced former New Zealand and Wales full-back Shane Howarth as their backs coach.