LYDNEY Rugby Club have revamped their coaching set-up for next season.

The club has brought in Don Parsons as forwards coach and promoted Nick Bartlett to the position of director of rugby.

There's also a promotion for Paul Morris, who becomes head coach. Last season, Paul primarily looked after the backs.

Nick Nelmes becomes responsible for team administration.

Nick Bartlett said: "We wanted a new voice and we think Don will do a good job for us.

"We also wanted to give Paul Morris more responsibility."

Don Parsons coached Dorset & Wiltshire to consecutive RFU County Championship finals at Twickenham.

He has done some coaching at Bath RFC and was working with Gordon League last season, having moved to Newnham-on-Severn.

He is a rugby development officer with the Rugby Football Union by day, and worked closely with Drybrook RFC to help them attain their Seal of Approval.

Parsons played as a flanker for Salisbury for more than two decades and was also the club's head coach. He made more than 50 appearances for his county side.

His coaching mentor was John Kimberley, who was number two to Jack Rowell at Bath.

Don said: "Lydney is a big club with a big reputation and I'm really looking forward to getting started.

"As a player I had some really hard games against Lydney and I don't think I ever won down there."

*** DON'T be surprised if former Saracens, England and British Lions back-row Richard Hill makes a surprise appearance at one of Lydney's future training sessions.

Hill was best man at Don Parsons's wedding and the two go back a long way.

Hill told The Forester: "When I was a young boy in the Salisbury team Don was a wise old head and my protector. He's still very protective towards me.

"He knows his rugby and should do a good job for Lydney."

Hill says he played at Lydney twice in his career.

The first time was on 'one of the back pitches' (on The Recreation Ground), where he ended up needing stitches for the first time in his rugby career, at Lydney Hospital.

His second visit to Lydney was in a Saracens shirt in the fifth round of the Tetley Bitter Cup in 1999.

"We certainly learnt a few things that day," he said.

Don's close friendship with Richard took him inside the England dressing room.

Don said: "I remember collecting up all the shorts on my hands and knees to take back to Salisbury and feeling someone behind, watching me. It was Martin Johnson.

"Everyone at Salisbury used to wear England shorts.

"Another time we went to a local nightclub with a pal, Marcus Olsen.

"It was just after the 1997 Lions tour to South Africa where Richard had been one of the stars.

"Marcus introduced himself as Rob Howley and I pretended to be Martin Johnson. We both got waved in.

"Richard gave his real name and the doorman said 'Sorry mate, never heard of you, but if you're with Rob and Johnno you can go in'."