NEWCASTLE Falcons have delivered another bold statement of their intent to remain a Premiership side with the addition of John Wells to the coaching team.
The 48-year-old has been forwards coach for the England national team for the past five years, and joins defence coach Mike Ford in swapping Twickenham for Kingston Park.
Upon announcing his move, Wells said: “This is a great opportunity for me, and I am looking forward to the challenge of helping the club secure its top-flight status.
“Newcastle Falcons is a big club which should be challenging for European cups and Premiership titles. I am used to working in pressurised environments when every game is a cup final, and that is the case between now and the end of the season.”
A legendary Leicester flanker in his playing days with 367 appearances for the club, Wells enjoyed enormous success with the Tigers as assistant to director of rugby Dean Richards. Together, the pair steered the club to four successive Premiership titles and two Heineken Cups before Wells stepped up to the top job following Richards’ departure in 2004.
After a year in the role Wells moved onto the international stage, initially as an RFU resource coach before stepping up to forwards coach with the national side under Brian Ashton.
Helping England to the 2007 Rugby World Cup final, he then stayed on in the role during Martin Johnson’s tenure until the expiry of his contract following the 2011 World Cup in New Zealand.
Renowned as an organisational brain capable of producing efficient and effective forward packs, Wells’ arrival at Newcastle has been largely driven by new director of rugby Gary Gold, who said: “I am incredibly delighted that John has decided to come on board with the club.
“He is a world-class coach with a wealth of experience, and he had a fantastic effect during his time at England.
“His appointment is a real demonstration of intent from club owner Semore Kurdi about the importance of keeping top-flight rugby in the North East.
“It is going to be a difficult job to keep Aviva Premiership rugby here and we are in an unfortunate position in the league, but we must focus on what we can control.”
The former South African national team assistant coach (pictured left) enjoyed a 37-7 home victory over Sale Sharks in his first full game at the helm last Sunday, and has consistently spoken of his desire for the Falcons to simplify their game and execute the basics.
To that end Wells is certainly a shrewd appointment and the robust Midlander will start work immediately, his first game coming at former club Leicester on Saturday as his new charges end their LV= Cup campaign at Welford Road.
Technically the visitors still entertain a mathematical chance of scraping through to the semi-finals of the Anglo-Welsh competition if they win on Saturday and Scarlets fail to beat Sale Sharks, although myriad permutations remain to be negotiated with Gloucester also in the frame for the Group C crown at London Irish.
Undoubtedly, though, it remains the Falcons’ league status where Wells will be expected to exert the biggest influence, as they currently languish nine points adrift at the bottom of the Aviva Premiership.
A week on Saturday at Bath sees them kick off the first of their nine remaining matches, with London Wasps the closest side in their sights.
The once-mighty capital club find themselves sinking like a stone at the moment, with financial concerns and an enormous injury list conspiring against them, as owner Steve Hayes looks to offload the High Wycombe franchise.
The Premiership fixture list has Newcastle ending their season at Adams Park on Saturday May 5 in a game which could have monumental repercussions for the loser, depending on results during the interim.
But the arrival of Wells in the short-term signals right from the outset that Kurdi is not prepared to surrender Premiership rugby lightly.
