Dorian West to leave Northampton Saints at end of season

Northampton Saints will part ways with forwards coach Dorian West at the end of the season.

West joined Northampton in 2007 as part of Jim Mallinder's coaching team and helped them win silverware for three successive seasons, including promotion from the Championship in 2008.

Saints lost to Leicester in the 2013 Premiership final but were crowned champions the following season when they defeated Saracens after extra-time at Twickenham.

However, Northampton have struggled this season, losing 12 of their 18 Premiership fixtures and finishing bottom of their Champions Cup pool.

They sacked Mallinder in December and West will also depart at the end of the current campaign after the board agreed "a change was in the best interest of the club".

"I'm very proud of what I've achieved at Saints," said West, who was a World Cup winner as a player with England in 2003. "We turned a side that had just been relegated from the Premiership into one of the very best teams in Europe.

"When you look back on your career as a player or a coach, you remember the trophies you won rather than the games you lost, and I'm happy we were able to win so many finals for the people of Northampton over the last decade.

"But all good things must come to an end and after Jim left the club earlier in the season I have gradually come to the decision that it's time for a new challenge away from Franklin's Gardens.

"I wish the playing squad all the best for the future, and for now I hope we can end this season on a high note."

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The club's chief executive Mark Darbon added: "I would like to thank Dorian for everything he has done for Northampton Saints.

"We have been very lucky to have him at Franklin's Gardens and he will always be a part of the Saints family.

"Dorian is a superb professional and is now firmly focused on helping the squad to finish the current season as strongly as possible."