Exeter appoint Townson as assistant forwards coach

Prem Rugby side Exeter have appointed Glen Townson as their assistant forwards coach.

The 39-year-old left his role as Bristol's academy transition coach earlier this week.

Townson, who played for Bristol, Doncaster, Newcastle and Ealing, returned to Ashton Gate in 2022, having previously been Ealing's forwards and defence coach.

"He's a very switched-on guy with good rugby experience both in the Prem and the Championship," Exeter director of rugby Rob Baxter told the club website., external

"He's already collated a good deal of coaching experience both in academy or transition programmes and in senior set-ups.

"He adds a layer of knowledge and skill to the coaching group that we think will be really important in the development of our individual players, our young forwards coming through the academy and the senior group."

Townson is the latest new face in a revamped coaching team at Sandy Park - James Wilson joined last month as assistant backs coach after long-serving skills coach Ricky Pellow left the club.

Exeter appointed Dave Walder as attack coach late last season and promoted Ross McMillan to forwards coach having dispensed with the services of Ali Hepher and Rob Hunter in the wake of April's club-record loss at Gloucester and an eventual second-from-bottom finish in the Premiership last season.

"It's good to have him joining us as, along with the arrival of James Wilson, we've now established our full coaching group that hopefully will be successful in the future," Baxter added. "The group will also be key in identifying and developing talent which comes through our academy and player pathways."