Former Luton and Hertford director of rugby Paul Allen to become new head coach at Shelford

Paul Allen will take up the strings at Shelford from this summer.

He will be passed the head coach baton by Mike Gillick, who stepped up from player to take up the challenge in the autumn of 2017. It is hoped by the club that Gillick will continue as a player at the Davey Field.

Allen had a 22-year career in the Bedfordshire and Metropolitan Police but took a three-year break between 1996 and 1999 to place professional rugby for Bedford Blues. He also played for Tabard, Penguins and Hertfordshire.

After leaving the police in 2012, Allen became director of rugby at Luton, and then in 2014 took up a similar role at Herford, guiding them to three top-six finishes.

Since 2017, he has been part of the coaching team at Ampthill in National League One, and from 2012 to 2017 was head of rugby and schools programme manager for Sky TV’s School of Hard Knocks.

Shelford president Rory Finlayson said: “We’re delighted to have been able to appoint Paul as Shelford’s head coach for next season.

“Paul will bring a wealth of playing and coaching experience to the role and will help the club to achieve our ambitious vision for the coming seasons.”

And Allen said: “It is a huge privilege to be joining Shelford, a club with huge ambition, outstanding facilities and a strong commitment to developing young local players.

“I’m looking forward to working with the senior playing squad but also to working with players and coaches from across the club’s six adult sides and with the successful mini and youth set-up.”