Cardiff Blues have confirmed that Matt Sherratt will join the region as Attack & Backs Coach from the 2016/17 season.

Sherratt will leave his current coaching position at Bristol Rugby to move to BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park next summer.

Highly rated coach Sherratt – one of the longest serving members of coaching staff at Bristol having arrived in 2011 – will form part of an expanded backroom team at Cardiff Blues under Head Coach Danny Wilson.

Graham Steadman will continue as Defence Coach, assisted by Richard Hodges, while Paul John will take on the full-time role of Skills Coach, working with the senior squad and also the senior Academy at Cardiff Blues while he studies a Master’s degree on Research in decision making and communications in rugby.

Danny Wilson said: “I’m delighted that Matt Sherratt will join us. I worked closely with him at Bristol and he always impressed me with his attention to detail and we share a similar coaching philosophy and view of the game.

“Matt has a great depth of knowledge and worked with senior players such as Dwayne Peel, Gavin Henson and David Lemi at Bristol to earn their full respect.

“Matt is an exciting addition to the team and a talented coach who is keen to start a new chapter in his career and make a big impression at Cardiff Blues.

“His arrival will see us add to the coaching team and I’m pleased that Paul John will not only work with us on a full-time basis as Skills Coach but that we can also support him during his Master’s degree.”

Sherratt originally worked in the Academy set-up at Bristol Rugby before moving into a first team role.

The Gloucester-born coach previously spent four years as an Academy Coach at Worcester Warriors, having also worked with Gloucester Rugby EPDG, Gloucestershire and Cheltenham.

Sherratt said: “I’m thrilled to be able to take the opportunity to work at Cardiff Blues and alongside Danny once again.

“I’ve really enjoyed the last five years at Bristol Rugby, a club with fantastic supporters and staff. But I felt it was time for the next challenge in my career and so I’m looking forward to the move to Wales in 2016.

“My focus is now totally committed to the cause at Bristol Rugby and the remainder of the 2015/16 season as we strive to achieve promotion to the English Premiership.”