Ospreys bosses have confirmed that Andrew Hore will arrive in Wales next week to officially begin his duties as Elite Performance Director.
Hore returns to Wales having previously held the post of WRU National Fitness Coach between 2002 and 2005, where working alongside Steve Hansen, Scott Johnson and Mike Ruddock he was credited with producing the fittest Welsh side ever as Wales won their first Grand Slam in almost three decades. Prior to this, he was a key part of the coaching set-up that established Canterbury Crusaders as the number one side in his home country, working alongside internationally renowned coaches such as Wayne Smith, Robbie Deans and Hansen.
As Ospreys Elite Performance Director, Hore will have responsibility for all rugby operations at the region and will oversee a review of the current Ospreys set-up, from top to bottom, before planning and implementing structures that regional chiefs hope will help to establish them as one of Europe's top sides.
Ospreys Managing Director Mike Cuddy said today:
"We are delighted to be able to confirm that Andrew Hore will be arriving in Wales next week. I've spoken to him regularly since his appointment was confirmed and he can't wait to get started. Andrew joins us at an exciting time in our development, and everybody at the Ospreys is looking forward to working with him as we look to move onto the next level and achieve our aims of establishing ourselves as one of Europe's elite rugby outfits."
Speaking at the time of his appointment in December, Andrew Hore said:
"The Ospreys are one of the most forward thinking and ambitious outfits in the Northern hemisphere game and the opportunity to help them achieve their long term aims was too good to turn down. The playing staff and facilities at the Ospreys are the envy of European rugby and I will work hard with the rest of the Ospreys team to ensure that we can help to deliver the long-term success that is so desired by everyone involved in the region."