Mike Ruddock has agreed with a three-year contract to be the new coach of Worcester Warriors on 1st May. The multimillionaire and club chairman, Cecil Duckworth, met him last week and made his return to full-time rugby at Sixways.
Ruddock, 47, was said to restore the fortunes of Welsh rugby by coaching the 2005 Grand Slam winning team but surprisingly stepped down mid way through their defence of the title. Duckworth believe his outstanding coaching can help the team play better.
In his “anything is possible” speech, Ruddock shows his ambition to mould Worcester into a major domestic and European force. Being one of the only two English teams occupying this season’s European Cup final, Worcester Warriors is facing its biggest challenge. Ruddock is their new hope after losing eight successive games resulted in Coach Anthony Eddy leaving the club.
Duckworth considered Ruddock as an eligible leader to coach the team to get the Heineken Cup at the end of the season. Thus Ruddock successfully takes over John Brain, who left the club on Monday, just 48 hours after masterminding Warriors' Guinness Premiership survival by keeping one point above relegated Northampton.
Ruddock is eager to start his coaching work, concentrating on the new signings to follow New Zealand centre Sam Tuitupou, who arrives at Worcester after the World Cup.
It is believed Ruddock will be given substantial funds to strengthen the Warriors squad with immediate signings. Under his leadership, Sixways is expected to reach a new era.
