Phil Morrow to join England as head of performance after Six Nations

Saracens’ Phil Morrow will join England as head of performance at the end of the season, after an initial attempt to recruit him was blocked by Premiership clubs.

England had hoped to bring in Morrow last autumn, but Saracens would only allow him to take up the role midway though a campaign if he continued with his club duties.

Premiership clubs blocked the job-sharing proposal over concerns of a potential conflict of interest, with England’s strength and conditioning department now working more closely with top-flight sides over star players’ fitness and recovery programmes as part the new Professional Game Agreement.

However, Morrow will step down from his Saracens post at the end of the domestic season to make the switch.

The situation means England will continue with a reduced conditioning department through the Six Nations.

Gloucester fitness coach Dan Tobin was recruited in September after Aled Walters switched to Ireland and long-serving Tom Tombleson left the camp.

“I’m incredibly proud to be joining England Rugby,” said Morrow.

“I’ve worked in the Premiership for a long time and week in, week out I see the quality of the players we have in England. The clubs do an outstanding job of developing these players, and I look forward to working with them to help them reach their full potential.

“Under Steve [Borthwick] the England team is in an exciting phase of growth and development, and I cannot wait to start contributing to the team’s future success.”

Morrow has spent almost 14 years with Saracens, during which they have won five Premiership titles and three European crowns.

He was also part of the strength and conditioning staff on the British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand in 2017.