Griffiths to leave Warriors role

Warriors head coach Clive Griffiths looks to be on his way out of Sixways

Worcester Warriors head coach Clive Griffiths has stepped down from his role after 18 months at the club, BBC Sport Wales understands.

Worcester director of rugby Mike Ruddock said: "I have conducted a performance review with Clive, as I have with all my staff.

"I'm in the process of feeding that back to Clive at the moment and I would not like to comment on speculation."

Griffiths has also refused to comment on the reports that he has left.

The ex-Wales rugby league boss and former Wales union defence coach joined the Warriors from National League One side Doncaster.

Chris Latham is a very experienced player with 78 caps for Australia so you're always going to utilise experience like that

Mike Ruddock

Griffiths, Ruddock's first major appointment on taking over from John Brain two summers ago, is expected to make a statement in the coming days.

Rumours emerged on Saturday morning that Griffiths was about to leave Sixways, amid suggestions that former Australian Test back Chris Latham could be about to step up to a player-coach role.

"Chris Latham is vice-captain so obviously he's going to have an influential role with the back line in the same way that Pat Sanderson is influential with the forwards," said Ruddock. "I wouldn't read any more into it than that.

"Chris is a very experienced player with 78 caps for Australia so you're always going to utilise experience like that, whether it is in a vice-captaincy role or trying to draw off the experiences of those boys in a training environment.

"This is regardless of any external speculation which is always going to happen."

Meanwhile, on the field, the Warriors produced a much-improved performance as they put Petrarca Padova to the sword with a crushing 68-17 victory.

Worcester went into the game knowing they needed to score eight tries if they were to book themselves a home tie in the quarter-finals of the European Challenge Cup.

They had crossed the visitors' line six times by half-time and went on to score ten tries in total, while Petrarca rallied in the second half to score three of their own.

Among the many highlights for the Warriors was a first try in Worcester colours for former Wales international centre Hal Luscombe.