Beck open to Warriors coaching return

Ashley Beck made seven international appearances for Wales

Former Worcester Warriors centre and women's coach Ashley Beck has said he would be interested in returning to the club, if it is resurrected.

The Warriors have submitted an expression of interest to join a newly-expanded Championship along with applications from Wasps and London Irish.

Worcester went into administration in September 2022 and despite initially being saved by a new sponsor, the Warriors women's side were pulled out of Premiership Women's Rugby in October 2023.

"I think a playing return is probably a step too far but if there's a coaching opportunity it's something I'd probably look at down the line," Beck told BBC Hereford & Worcester.

The centre made 60 appearances for the Warriors men's side having joined the Premiership club from Ospreys in 2018 and was appointed the women's backs and attack coach last summer.

After leaving Worcester, the former Wales international played for Merthyr and has served as head coach for Celtic Challenge League side Brython Thunder.

"I'm still in touch with the coaching staff as Jo (Yapp, former women's head coach) and Steve (Diamond, former Warriors director of rugby) gave me my first chance to get involved in coaching and they've always had my back in terms of advice," added Beck.

"I'd kind of tuned out (when hearing about a revival of the club) so it wasn't until things became a little bit more formal that I'd pay attention."

With the Worcester men's team going out of business in 2022 and the women's side suffering the same fate a year later, Beck found himself made redundant twice.

"It was tough to take and not nice at all but to hear the team might be on the way back is a great sign and hats off to the people involved," he added.

"Worcester is a great city and everybody is desperate for rugby at the moment."