Smith joins Brumbies coaching ranks

Updated December 11, 2012 08:09:23

Former NRL coach Brian Smith has joined the coaching staff of Super Rugby club the ACT Brumbies for next season.

Smith coached NRL clubs Parramatta, St George Illawarra, Newcastle and the Roosters.

Smith never won a premiership in more than 20 years as a top grade coach, but his football experience and track record with young players will certainly help an inexperienced Brumbies squad.

He will take on the Brumbies' role vacated by Newcastle Knights veteran Danny Buderus, working alongside Brumbies head coach Jake White.

Brumbies' chief executive Andrew Fagan says Smith will bring a wealth of experience to the club.

"There is particular focus of his work around those defensive systems, but I think because of his experience we'll be using him to look at exchanging ideas in all sorts of areas," Fagan said.

The Brumbies' appointment of Buderus as a part-time coach was over even before it started, with the NRL blocking the rugby franchise's move to sign him as a collision coach.

The league issued a statement seeking "an immediate explanation" from the Knights with regards to the deal after saying no third party agreement had been lodged as the NRL salary cap requires.

Brumbies boss Andrew Fagan said he thought that Buderus had Newcastle's blessing but evidently not the NRL's.

The Knights later said in a statement that the final agreement between Buderus and the Brumbies had not been seen by the club and needed to be submitted to and approved by the NRL.

But Newcastle chief executive Matt Gidley did say the club had encouraged Buderus to seek varied work experience.

Tags: super-rugby, rugby-union, nrl, rugby-league, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted December 11, 2012 08:03:06

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Lions unveil coaching line-up

Updated December 12, 2012 23:35:32

British and Irish Lions coach Warren Gatland on Wednesday named a trio of assistants - Rob Howley, Andy Farrell and Graham Rowntree - for next year's tour to Australia.

England forwards specialist Rowntree and backs coach Howley of Wales were part of the 2009 Lions coaching team in South Africa. England's ex-rugby league star Farrell will tour with the Lions for the first time.

There is no place, at present, for Wales defence specialist Shaun Edwards.

Howley worked as Wales' interim head coach for their opening autumn Tests against Argentina and Samoa last month, and he will resume that job for this season's Six Nations tournament while Wales chief Gatland concentrates on the Lions.

Howley (1997 and 2001) and Rowntree (2005) both toured with the Lions as players.

"I am delighted with today's appointments and confident that Rob, Graham, Andy and myself can come together quickly to face one of the hardest rugby challenges," Gatland said.

"Lions tours are unique as we have to mould together players from four countries in an incredibly short space of time.

"We have no illusion as to the hard work required but we have spoken of the challenges and truly believe that as a coaching team we can provide the players with the support and environment needed for victory in Australia.

"We will also discuss over the coming weeks the requirement for any further technical assistance."

Lions manager Andy Irvine added: "Today is an exciting day and the next chapter in the 2013 tour story. The selection of the coaching staff is significant, this experienced trio have proven track records and we are delighted to have them on board.

"Importantly I believe we now have in the tour management team, in the areas of coaching, logistics, media, performance analysis and medical, continuity from previous tours, especially 2009.

"This is important as they all understand the challenges that lie ahead and the experience gained in South Africa will be essential as we head to Australia next year."

Also confirmed was the appointment of Dr James Robson as leader of the tour medical team. Robson has been the Scotland team doctor since 2002 and next summer's tour will be his sixth with the Lions.

The Lions 2013 tour begins against the Barbarians in Hong Kong on June 1, with the first of three Tests against Australia taking place in Brisbane on June 22.

The Lions have not won a Test series since they toured South Africa in 1997.

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, united-kingdom

First posted December 12, 2012 23:35:32

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Force announce coaching staff

Updated October 08, 2012 13:42:58

Western Force have added to their staff to work under head coach Michael Foley in 2013.

The Force have appointed former Bath coach Steve Meehan as backs/attack coach, while former Queensland Reds consultant Phillip Fowler will join the franchise as a strategist.

Chris Webb, who worked with Foley at the Waratahs, has also been named as the Force's high performance general manager.

The trio will work alongside Foley and forwards coach Nick Stiles.

Meehan graduated from the Brisbane club coaching ranks to take a position on the staff of French Top 14 side Stade Francais from 2002 to 2005.

He was Bath's head coach in the English premiership from 2006 to 2011 and during his tenure the club won the 2007/2008 European Challenge Cup.

The New Zealand-born Fowler was one of Ewen McKenzie's confidants when the Reds won the 2011 Super Rugby title.

Fowler, a qualified psychologist, also worked as a strategist during four World Cups with the Wallabies (1991, 2003), the All Blacks (1995) and the Springboks (2007).

"We've engaged some of the best in the business to join us for 2013," Foley said in a statement.

"We've drawn a line in the sand for this season and, given we'll run out a new-look side, it was essential that we assembled a coaching staff that would not only provide insight into the game but will assist to develop our players and the group as a whole."

The Force are expected to make further appointments in the coming weeks.

Tags: rugby-union, super-rugby, perth-6000

First posted October 08, 2012 13:40:28

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Henry joins Blues coaching staff

Updated August 22, 2012 15:20:43

World Cup-winning coach Graham Henry will join the Blues as a technical advisor to help the Super Rugby franchise rebuild after a disappointing 2012 season.

The Blues said Henry would work with new head coach John Kirwan, who replaced Pat Lam last month after the three-times champions finished 12th on the ladder with 12 losses and four wins.

Henry, who stepped down as All Blacks coach after guiding the team to victory in the 2011 World Cup, was in charge of the Blues from 1996-98, when they won two of their titles.

Kirwan said Mick Byrne and Grant Doorey, who both previously worked with him when he coached Japan, would also join the coaching team.

"We've got a lot of work ahead of us but I believe the combination of this coaching group puts the Blues in good hands for 2013," he said.

AFP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-rugby, new-zealand

First posted August 22, 2012 12:00:02

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Coaching Junior Rugby - The 7 Traits of a Champion Team

Macqueen tipped to quit coaching

Updated June 13, 2011 15:25:00

Rod Macqueen is expected to confirm he will stand down next week as head coach of the Melbourne Rebels

Macqueen was saying little on Monday on what his Super Rugby future held.

But he confirmed there would be an announcement on his future next week - just days after he coaches the Rebels in their final match this season against the Western Force on Friday night in Melbourne.

Insiders suggest Macqueen will move away from day-to-day coaching, but remain involved in some capacity with the Rebels.

"We've had a succession plan in place from day one, and it's something we weren't likely to discuss until the end of the season," Macqueen said.

"This week, we really want to concentrate on the last game.

"But next week, we will be announcing exactly what's happening."

Assistant Damien Hill looms as the frontrunner to succeed Macqueen, especially if the succession plan the ex-Wallabies coach speaks about is followed to the letter.

Macqueen spent 18 months establishing the Rebels in Melbourne, building a squad, then steering them to three wins in 15 matches this season.

But despite the best performance by a Super Rugby expansion club they will finish with the wooden spoon after having lost their past eight games.

"We've got a very good presence now in Melbourne. Surveys suggest we've done a lot of things right off the field," Macqueen said.

"From our perspective now, we have to take what we learned this year and put it on the paddock for next year.

"It's been a great challenge. I came here with my eyes open and what hasn't let me down is the Melbourne public and the way they've embraced rugby."

Macqueen said defence would be a key area to work on for next season, and the club would benefit from having had a year to bed down before beginning a preseason on similar footing to other clubs.

"We haven't done as well on the field as we would have liked ... (2012) will be a totally different year," he said.

"We'll be able to be a lot more normal in our approach than the other sides have been able to do.

"We had to start from scratch this year, learn our different ways of playing, our moves, our calls, our structures, get to know each other.

"All of that's been done now."

- AAP

Tags: sport, rugby-union, super-14, australia, vic, melbourne-3000

First posted June 13, 2011 15:04:00

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