Davies confirmed in Gloucester role

Gloucester managing director Ken Nottage has confirmed Nigel Davies' appointment as the Aviva Premiership club's new rugby director. Davies, 47, has agreed a three-year contract and he will succeed Bryan Redpath at Kingsholm. Davies will move to Gloucester from the Llanelli-based Scarlets, where he oversaw the development of Wales internationals like George North, Jonathan Davies and Rhys Priestland. He also worked closely with England number eight Ben Morgan, who is among a raft of new signings at Gloucester for next season. "We are really delighted to appoint Nigel," Nottage told The Citizen newspaper. "In my dealings with Nigel, every time I have met him I am more and more sure that he is absolutely the right man for the job at Gloucester. He was very attracted to this club, and he sees it as something that will develop him as a coach further. "The Premiership is a highly-regarded league and Gloucester is a highly-regarded club. It is good to have a quality coach come in to take our squad forward." Davies won 29 caps for Wales as a high-class centre, and he stepped in to coach his country for a 2007 Test match against South Africa before Warren Gatland's appointment. Davies will start work at Kingsholm following a pre-arranged visit to South Africa for the Junior World Cup. "We had some very good coaches who were very interested and available, and it was a long discussion. I think in these matters you have to pursue every avenue," Nottage added. "But we are very, very pleased with where we have got to. Nigel was always our first choice."