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Ryan itching to get started with RFU role

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Former Gloucester and Worcester head coach Dean Ryan has been appointed head of international player development by the RFU.

Former Gloucester and Worcester head coach Dean Ryan has been appointed head of international player development by the RFU.

Ryan, who was capped four times by England in his playing career, will start work under director of professional rugby Nigel Melville next month.

Ryan’s role will oversee the leading and managing of the international performance pathway to provide a pipeline of players to England who are the current 2016 RBS 6 Nations and Grand Slam winners.

He will work closely with academies and national-team coaches from the U16 age group going through to the senior team.

And Ryan – who left his role as Worcester Warriors head coach last month – cannot wait to get started.

“I am delighted to be joining the RFU at an exciting time for rugby in England,” he said.

“The month of June alone saw incredible success, with the senior team winning the series in Australia, the U20s winning their third World Rugby Championship title in four years and the Saxons series win in South Africa.

“This is an opportunity for England Rugby to take that next step and become a dominant force in world rugby. To do this we need to ensure we continue to develop a world-class pathway system for our players and elite coaches.

“Having excellent relationships with the professional clubs is key, and we need to be joined up in our approach so we develop players who are ready to take that step into the senior international environment and make a real impact for England.”