Sport

Clarke returns to Ulster in elite performance role

ALLEN CLARKE is to move from his position as IRFU high-performance manager to take up a role with the Ulster Academy alongside…

Fri Jul 06 2012 - 01:00

ALLEN CLARKE is to move from his position as IRFU high-performance manager to take up a role with the Ulster Academy alongside Gary Longwell and last season’s head coach Brian McLaughlin.

The former Irish international is returning to his roots as he was Ulster’s assistant coach during Mark McCall’s reign, but has worked in the IRFU role for the past five years.

Ulster director of rugby David Humphreys said he was delighted to secure Clarke’s services. Clarke’s job title will be elite performance development manager and he will arrive at Ravenhill as New Zealand coach Mark Anscombe takes charge for the first time.

“Ulster Rugby recognises the critical importance of investing in the future by developing talent from within and we have, and will continue to devote significant resources in terms of finance, facilities and personnel to this area,” said Humphreys.

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“We look forward to him building on the superb work already undertaken by Gary Longwell. The team of Gary Longwell, Brian McLaughlin and now Allen Clarke will ensure we deliver and maintain a world-class high performance academy programme.”

Clarke said he had been “honoured and privileged to have been involved in such a critical role for Irish rugby over the past five years”.

Elsewhere, England backrow James Haskell is the most notable omission from England’s 32-man senior squad for the forthcoming season. Haskell was in the starting line-up in the drawn final Test against South Africa in Port Elizabeth last month.

England head coach Stuart Lancaster has called up Anthony Allen, Geoff Parling, Thomas Waldrom, Danny Care, Alex Goode, Tom Johnson and Jonathan Joseph. Among other notable absentees from the seniors are David Strettle, Paul Doran-Jones and Ugo Monye.

Meanwhile, Michael Bradley has welcomed the commitment and the winning mentality of Edinburgh’s new signing, forwards coach Neil Back. The former Irish scrumhalf confirmed the World Cup-winning England flanker will make the move to Murrayfield after leading the Rugby Lions to promotion to National Two.

Before his season-long stint at Rugby, Back had been head coach at Leeds and assistant coach at Leicester. Bradley is thrilled to have the experienced campaigner on board – with Back replacing Tom Smith. He said: “There is a consistent thread of success throughout his playing and coaching career, his attention to detail is exceptional and he has outlined clearly the standards he expects of himself and our squad.”