FORMER Newport and Ebbw Vale coach Richard Hill is set to become director of rugby at Bristol Shoguns under a new consortium expected to take over in the next week.

The consortium - headed by former Bristol players Alan Morley and Nigel Pomphrey - are waiting for legal formalities to be completed.

Hill (pictured) confirmed the possible move to the Argus today, saying: "I am talking to Bristol but there is a lot to be done yet. The consortium are still talking to the club as well.

"It is one option for me and a very good one. I would be starting with a clean sheet with a very young squad and that's exciting.

"It would also be nice to be back in charge as head coach rather than assistant coach.

"There are benefits and there are pitfalls, the main pitfall being you take the flak if things don't go well.

"But I had three and a half years in the role at Gloucester so I know what to expect."

Bristol were relegated from the Zurich Premiership last season.

The consortium's plans are believed to be based on a non-profit making organisation, with ownership in the hands of the supporters - similar to what is being proposed by the group seeking to take over at Pontypool.

Hill, 42, was coach at Newport last season alongside Leigh Jones, with whom he had also been previously in charge at Vale.

He was previously coach and director of rugby at Gloucester and assistant coach at Harlequins. He was formerly coach of England A and played 29 times for England.

Meanwhile Gloucester flanker Andy Hazell, whose mother is from Gwent and who has many relatives here, has moved a step nearer making the England World Cup squad.

He has been named in Clive Woodward's initial squad for the summer Tests against Wales in Cardiff and the double-header with France. Hazell has been clocking up the Air Miles recently.

He played for England A when they beat the New Zealand Maoris in New Plymouth last month before flying to Canada for the Churchill Cup and then to Japan for a two-game mini tour.

"I have been everywhere. They will be calling me Phineas Fogg," he said.

"This is great news but it is going to be hard for me to get into the squad.

"I just have to knuckle down and push as hard as I can."

Gloucester's former Pontypool forward Alex Brown has not made the squad, but has been invited to train and has been registered for accreditation purposes with the World Cup organisers.