SALE Sharks boss Kingsley Jones has made another key addition to his new-look backroom squad by swooping to secure the services of former Wales team-mate Byron Hayward.

The 39 year-old will move to Edgeley Park where he will take up a post as kicking, conditioning and strategy coach.

Though he has held a similar position at Magners League outfit Newport Gwent Dragons, as well as working as a backs coach at Newbridge, it's the first time Sale have specifically appointed someone to oversee those specialist skills sets.

Sharks director of rugby Jones knows the former full-back well and believes Hayward will bring a unique insight into the game with him when he makes the move from Wales later this summer.

"I know Byron very well, having played alongside him for Ebbw Vale and Gloucester as well as for Wales. Byron will bring a lot to the club and he's someone I know and trust which is vital," said Jones.

"He's currently the Dragons kicking coach and conditioner. On top of that, he's a qualified conditioner and he's also a coach.

Skills

"In fact, he coached the Wales Under-19s to a Grand Slam a couple of years ago, plus he's also coached the Wales Under-20s side and he looks after the Wales 7s attack.

"Byron can look after kicking, skills, conditioning plus he can also take match-day warm-ups. And just as importantly from our point of view, he's a rugby man through and through."

On top of that impressive pedigree, Hayward - who scored a hat-trick on his debut for Wales - will carry plenty of authority with him on his arrival at Sale's Carrington training base.

And given his background, the Sale players would be well advised to ensure they brook no argument with him.

"Byron's also a former Wales light middleweight champion and he ran last month's London Marathon in four hours," Jones added.

"I really do believe that he'll bring an awful lot with him and in terms of someone like Nick MacLeod and his kicking game, I think Nick will benefit massively from working with Byron."

THE Rugby Football Union has confirmed it will submit a bid to host the World Cup in 2015.

Details of the bid will be made public after it is presented to the International Rugby Board Council in Dublin next Wednesday.

RFU chief executive Francis Baron said: "We believe it is time that we brought the tournament back to England."

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