Darren Crompton will look after scrum coaching at Bristol

Darren Crompton has been given the new role of player-coach as Bristol continue their rebuilding programme for another season in the Championship.

The 37-year-old former Bath prop is one of three men who will assist head coach Paul Hull in the coming campaign.

Academy manager Liam Middleton and coach Matthew Salter will also help out with the first team.

"I'm really pleased to have them all on board," Hull told BBC Radio Bristol. "They're excited about the challenge."

Forwards coach John Brain became the first casualty of Bristol's failure to regain a place in the Premiership and several players have since left the club.

"It does give me a bit more responsibility because John is an experienced forwards coach and ex-director of rugby, so he has massive experience," added Hull.

"We've now promoted from within with Liam Middleton and Matthew Salter. We've also asked Darren Crompton to become player-coach and to help with the scrums.

We're building for the future and we're really pleased with the players we have on board Bristol head coach Paul Hull

"So between the three of them they will cover and support me.

"There will be a lot more academy players in the first team this season, which is good."

Bristol had already announced that back row forward Iain Grieve will captain the side and influential hooker has signed a new one-year deal.

"We're building for the future and we're really pleased with the players we have on board," continued Hull.

"It means we have a mix of experience and youth and we're confident we will make a good fist of it this year and not let ourselves down."

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