Retired England lock Joe Launchbury takes charge of Worcester Warriors academy

Joe Launchbury has moved into coaching just weeks after retiring from professional rugby, taking charge of Worcester Warriors’ newly formed academy in what the club describes as a significant step in developing homegrown talent.

The 35-year-old former England lock earned 70 Test caps over a decade-long international career and brings prior academy coaching experience from Wasps and Harlequins to his new role at Sixways.

Warriors head coach Matt Everard, who worked alongside Launchbury at Wasps, was emphatic in his praise for the appointment. “Joe is one of the best leaders I’ve worked with. He has added to every environment he’s been in and embodies high performance,” Everard said. “With his playing experience combined with his academy coaching experience at Wasps and Harlequins, he is a hugely exciting addition to the club. This is a big step forward in nurturing all the local homegrown talent we are blessed with.”

Launchbury played close to 200 professional club matches across spells at Wasps and Harlequins, having begun his career in the National Leagues with Worthing and also spent time in Japan. On the international stage, he was part of England squads that won three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2016, and reached the Rugby World Cup final in Japan in 2019, where they were beaten by South Africa.

The former lock said the opportunity to shape the next generation at a club with a strong academy tradition was one he could not pass up. “I’m really honoured to be here at the start of the journey for the Academy. It’s a club with a huge amount of history, especially in the academy area,” Launchbury said. “Working with the next generation, working with these younger players definitely excites me, and the opportunity to come here to Worcester was something I didn’t want to turn down.”

Worcester Warriors, who are rebuilding following the club’s well-documented financial difficulties in recent years, have positioned the new academy as central to their long-term development strategy.