FORMER Gloucester and England full back Olly Morgan is heading up the Gloucester Rugby developing player programme at Cirencester RFC.

The initiative, now in its third year, has expanded to take in three regional centres for players aged 13-15 in the Gloucestershire area with a brief to unearth talent who can eventually join the Gloucester Academy.

Twice capped for England, Morgan was forced to retire in 2013 following knee ligament damage.

He met up with his first batch of 40 recruits from local schools and clubs on Monday evening at Cirencester.

The second regional centre at Dean Close School in Cheltenham is led by Andrew Stanley, and the third, at Hartpury College has yet to confirm its centre leader.

The three coaches will then deliver the curriculum set out by Gloucester Rugby to the players in their areas.

Gloucester Rugby academy director Neil McCarthy, a former Cirencester player himself, explained the benefits of the programme.

“It’s essential to have quality people in those roles, if you want to develop these young players and give them good experience," said McCarthy.

“In the cases of Andrew Stanley and Olly Morgan, they have been involved with the club for a long time, and we are delighted to have them on board with this programme and this will hopefully attract more players to their centres.

“Ultimately, we don’t want players who are Gloucestershire-based going elsewhere, we want the best players in our county, to be coming to Gloucester Rugby – we don’t want to miss out on anybody.

“There are two elements to the programme, our talent ID and talent development, and more importantly the community game will benefit from the experience.”

Chairman of Cirencester RFC Tim Thompson is delighted his club was chosen to host the scheme.

“I’m very happy that Cirencester are involved," he said. "We’ve previously had a relationship with Gloucester, but our boys had to travel to be involved.

“Now, with Cirencester being one of the centres, it means they don’t have to travel and now they can be part of what is going on with the programme.

“It’s taking Gloucester Rugby out into Gloucestershire. The clubs that are away from the hub of the city of Gloucester now have that chance to get involved.

"It means clubs will retain their players for longer, and it will strengthen the standard of rugby in the local game."