PERSUADING Nick Johnston to join Worcester Warriors as the club’s new high performance director is ‘more important than any player signing’, according to Dean Ryan.

Having left a similar role at Northampton Saints in October, highly-regarded Johnston takes up his Sixways role on December 1 and Warriors director of rugby Ryan insists it is a strategically vital appointment for the future of the club.

Johnston’s Sixways remit will be to drive the club forward by implementing the development of world-class structures in terms of the academy process, administration, medical and strength and conditioning.

Another aspect to his role — one that Ryan sees as absolutely vital — is to develop relationships with local education establishments to ensure the cream of up-and-coming rugby talent does not slip through the Warriors net.

Ryan said: “We have to build relationships and all those things that we don’t currently have post-18.

“Not only do we not have any athletes post-18, we actually don’t have any relationships post-18 and they are essential to grow the base of where those players come from.

“Recruiting everyone cannot be the answer — the models that work very well include a mix of academic institutions. Nick’s experience of brokering those relationships will be essential.

“He has quite a wide brief, but it does give a really clear picture of the coaching input coming from one side and the high performance work being supported from the other.

“The players then benefit in the middle, which is crucial if we are going to put the development of the next tier of players in place.

“If that’s going to be at the centre of everything we do, we have to make sure they are the best and that’s what we have been able to achieve by getting one of the best in Nick.”

Ryan added: “Personally, I am delighted that he has accepted the challenge and can see the potential of the place and I think it is a significant step for us as a club.

“He has been in other places that have had to build from the bottom up and that is exactly what his strengths are and why he is here.

“We’re not bringing anyone here who does not understand what the challenge is, but everyone can see what is at the other end. The key is giving people the confidence that the challenge can be addressed properly and that’s my job.

“I have to ensure that people do feel confident because these things do take time.

“Someone like a high performance director won’t show immediate returns, it’s about creating the right environment across everything.

“Building the right relationships for our academy, creating the systems that support the academy, the same with medical and strength and conditioning and taking all of those support areas that sit around the professional Premiership outfit to a different level.

“In all of those areas, we could benefit from someone of Nick’s experience.

“He brings an awful lot and it’s about being world-class. To get long-term world-class athletes, you have to get world-class systems in place.”