Worcester Warriors are reportedly set to announce Steve Diamond's return to the Premiership next week as he joins the club in a consultancy role.
Almost one year after stepping down as Sale Sharks ' director of rugby for personal reasons, one of the Premiership's most prominent coaching figures of the past decade is on the verge of a comeback.
The Daily Mail have reported that the former Saracens and Russia coach is set for Sixways as a consultant despite recent rumours linking him with Bath, who are languishing at the base of the Premiership standings
Worcester are only one place better off but—unlike Stuart Hooper's side—have at least managed to win a couple of games so far this season, one of which was against Diamond's dear Sale.
The former hooker was posted at the AJ Bell stadium for almost a decade prior to his sudden departure in December 2020.
Sale appear to have got their appointment right in naming Alex Sanderson his successor, with exciting times ahead after the club announced the 2022 signing of George Ford from Premiership leaders Leicester Tigers.
But Diamond will seemingly head south for his next posting as he attempts to inspire a resurgence of his own in a new Premiership setting.
Alan Solomons is approaching his four-year anniversary as director of rugby at Sixways, but the Daily Mail suggested his time at the club could be nearing an end as his contract enters its final months.
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It's understood head coach Jonathan Thomas has therefore taken a more senior role in the overall running of the team, with Diamond expected to provide some very welcome experience in that department.
Curing Worcester's ailing defence will be a particular priority, with the club having conceded Premiership highs of 287 points and 41 tries in their eight outings so far this season.
Moreover, only 13th-placed Bath have scored fewer points that Thomas' men this term, giving Diamond plenty to work with.
The Warriors are perhaps fortunate the Rugby Football Union (RFU) agreed to pause relegation from the Premiership until the end of the 2022/23 campaign, with the league to be boosted up to 14 teams next year.
The club's record so far this term would have made them a major candidate for the drop in 2022, although Bath's lifeless first half of the season has left them stranded at the bottom as things stand.
Worcester raised expectations with a couple of statement signings this past summer, but arrivals like Duhan van der Merwe, Rory Sutherland, Scott Baldwin and Willi Heinz are yet to inspire any consistent winning form.
