Ulster Name New Assistant Coach

Ulster Rugby today announced that former Welsh international Steve Williams has been appointed as Assistant Coach at Ravenhill from the end of this month.

Williams, who fills the role left vacant after Allen Clarke’s move to the Elite Player Development Manager position within the IRFU has signed a two-year contract.

Capped 28 times for Wales the former international lock had an eight-year playing career with clubs including London Irish and Northampton Saints

In 2004 he made the move from player to coach when he took up the role of Head Coach at Coventry RFC.

In just one season he brought Coventry from the relegation zone to a 6th place finish in their League.

 In May 2005 he linked up with former Northampton Saints team mate Paul Grayson and became Assistant Forwards Coach at Northampton in a season which saw the team move from 11th in the Premiership table to 5th and qualify for the Heineken Cup. At the end of the 2005-06 season he took a Head Coach position at English National One side Pertemps Bees who reached the semi-final of this season’s EDF Energy Cup.

Williams who is 36 years old is will take up his appointment at the end of the month and is looking forward to working with the Ulster squad:

“I am very much looking forward to being part of the team at Ulster and feel that it is an honour to be involved in the Ulster set up. I am very excited and keen to get started in my new role and hopefully make a positive difference to the team.”

Ulster Rugby’s Chief Executive Michael Reid said this of the appointment:

“We are delighted to welcome a coach of Steve’s undoubted reputation into the Ulster family. When Allen Clarke moved to his new role with the IRFU we scoured the world for a replacement, everyone we spoke to highlighted Steve as an outstanding coach and man manager. His playing and coaching CVs speak for themselves and it became obvious when he met up with Mark McCall in Belfast that he was the man for the job.”

Lee O’Neill, board director of Pertemps Bees, said:

“Steve is a very talented coach who has improved the standard of rugby played at Pertemps Bees in the year he has been with us and he has brought a new level of professionalism to the playing side and I’m sure Steve will do an excellent job for Ulster.”