Sam Vesty: Worcester boss Dean Ryan appoints new backs coach

Vesty played 157 games for home town club Leicester, who he helped to win three Premiership titles

Worcester Warriors director of rugby Dean Ryan has made two changes to his backroom staff by appointing Sam Vesty as backs coach and bringing in Jim McKay as a coaching consultant.

Vesty, 33, who first arrived at Sixways in July 2013 as academy transition manager, steps up as the successor to Shane Howarth, who left last week.

Former Australia attack coach McKay, 48, began coaching at Stourbridge.

He also worked at Leicester as assistant academy manager in 2008-09.

Prior to that, he was head coach at Cornish Pirates, leading them to third place in National League One in 2006, then their highest position in English club rugby, as well as helping them to lift the British & Irish Cup a year later.

Jim McKay worked as attack coach with Ewen McKenzie (left) for the Australian national team

More recently, he spent four years as senior assistant coach at Super Rugby side Queensland Reds, helping the club win the title in 2011, and was part of Ewen McKenzie's backroom set-up with the Australia national team.

Since joining Worcester two summers ago, twice-capped former England international Vesty has played a big role in bringing though the likes of Ben Howard and Max Stelling to first-team level.

Meanwhile, Worcester flanker Sam Betty has been nominated for the Championship player of the month award.

Worcester's top try scorer ran in six of his season's haul of 13 in January, including a hat-trick against Moseley.