WORCESTER Rugby Club's backroom set-up has been completed with the appointment of Stephen Townend as their new assistant coach.

The 42-year-old has quit his post as Wakefield's director of rugby to become John Brain's assistant and backs coach at Sixways.

Townend already has an impressive CV at National One level and last season guided the Yorkshire club to fourth in the league, a substantial achievement for a semi-professional outfit.

He has been synonymous with Wakefield after making more than 450 appearances at either fly-half or centre between 1979 and 1994.

The former England under-23 player was appointed assistant coach at Wakefield in 1995 and has been involved in Yorkshire's county side and the North's under-21 team.

After steadily improving Wakefield's results on the pitch in the past four seasons, Townend - who has a reputation for bringing the best out of younger players - has finally cut his ties with the club and will sign a two-year deal at Worcester.

Chief executive Geoff Cooke said: "I've known Stephen for a long time now and have been very impressed with his development as a coach.

"He has done an excellent job at Wakefield and to finish fourth in the league last season was a real achievement."