Former Sale Sharks coach Dan Richmond joins Cambridge Rugby Club

Dan Richmond will bring Premiership and international coaching experience to Cambridge after being appointed to a new-look coaching team.

The 40-year-old former hooker will become the forwards and defence coach at Volac Park, having previously worked with the club in a consultancy basis in the 2017/18 season.

Richmond appeared for Northampton Saints, Bath and Bedford during his playing days, and since picking up the coaching baton has worked with Sale Sharks, Worcester Warriors, and Wasps, and was part of the Argentina coaching team at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

“It’s a massive coup for us as a club,” said head coach Richie Williams. “He has done a little bit of work in the past with Cambridge, two years ago when Ross Stewart was in charge.

“He came in the back end of last season to do two weeks with us. I’ve heard nothing but positive messages, the players respect him, he’s worked at the top end of the game.

“He’s very current in terms of his delivery style and for us as a coaching team will help improve us in some areas where we were a little bit deficient last season.”

Williams will be the head coach with a focus on the attack, Richmond will be forwards and defence coach, and Simon Leader will be looking at skill development work and the backs, primarily. Fin Barnham, Alan Lane and Darren Messenger are also part of the coaching team.

“Dan’s coached Sale Sharks and done some work on their set-piece, a little bit of work with Argentina and he’s got his own consultancy business where he does a bit of stuff overseas,” said Williams.

“We’re really lucky to have someone with his knowledge coming into the club. He has that connection after working at the club a few years ago.

“We’re really excited about having Dan and he’s got some really good ideas. The enthusiasm that he has around the place is pretty infectious.”

Tom Harrison, Darren Fox and Darrell Ball, who were all part of the coaching team last year, have moved on to pastures new.

Cambridge have three pre-season matches. They have a three-day training weekend in Chester on the weekend of August 17 and 18, they travel to Bedford Blues on August 23 and complete their schedule at home to Coventry on August 31.

There will also be squad games against Kettering and Peterborough.

Read more:

Cambridge Rugby Club academy to have Vipers brand

Joe Tarrant makes eye-catching move to Cambridge