Former Worcester Warriors director of rugby John Brain, died suddenly yesterday aged 50.

Brain, who was operations directors at Gloucester, made nearly 300 appearances for the Cherry and Whites as a player and also worked as assistant coach at Kingsholm under Philippe Saint-Andre before taking charge at Sixways.

Brain guided Worcester into the Premiership and coached the forwards at Bristol before returning to Gloucester in 2010 in a scouting capacity.

Worcester said on their website: “Everyone connected with Warriors is deeply saddened by the news and our thoughts are with his wife and daughters at this difficult time.”