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Joe Schmidt rejoins Blues coaching line-up

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(Photo By Ramsey Cardy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

The Blues will welcome back two former Blues personnel as additions to the coaching staff for 2022, which will add both youth and experience to the team’s coaching ranks.

Auckland Bunnings NPC defence coach Craig McGrath will be stepping up to join The Blues as defence coach for the Super Rugby Pacific campaign in 2022. He will retain his role with the Auckland NPC team.

Meanwhile, experienced international coach Joe Schmidt is returning to The Blues in a part-time role as a support coach and will assist Head Coach Leon MacDonald. Schmidt was formerly Assistant Coach with the Blues from 2005 to 2007, finishing with a close fought semi-final loss to the Sharks in Durban. During that time, McGrath also joined the Blues as a replacement halfback.

Schmidt went on to coach in France with Clermont Auvergne, winning the Top 14 Championship and then in Ireland with Leinster winning the Heineken Cup twice as well as a European Challenge Cup and Pro 12 League before becoming Ireland’s Head Coach from 2013 to 2019. After his record-breaking stint with Ireland, Schmidt was appointed World Rugby’s Director of Rugby and High Performance.

McGrath, like Schmidt, had a stint as a player-coach in Ireland after playing in Italy, before switching full-time to coaching. He was an assistant coach with the Melbourne Rebels for four seasons and then with the Honda HEAT in Japan for three years, joining the Auckland NPC coaching staff with responsibility for defence and skills development in 2020.

The additions to the coaching staff follow the departure of Tana Umaga who stepped down as defence coach to focus on his family business after the Blues’ successful 2021 Super Rugby season.

Blues CEO Andrew Hore says bringing Craig McGrath into the Blues environment would build on and continue to develop the excellent work of Tana Umaga, while the addition of Joe Schmidt gave the coaching team access to a vast bank of knowledge and experience that would help all the coaches.

“Our strategic plan is clear. We need to develop success for today and develop success for tomorrow,” says Hore. 

“In this role, Joe will be able to support Leon and also Craig, as our new defence coach, given Joe’s own expertise as a defence coach over many years. It is an ideal blend of youth and experience, and we are rapt to be able to have both join our camp.”

Head coach Leon MacDonald says the additions will strengthen the coaching team and sees an evolution of his own dialogue and relationship with Schmidt.

“Joe has been mentoring me the last 12 months, which has been incredibly helpful. Having him as part of the coaching team will give us a different voice in the mix and he can also look at things through a different lens and really challenge us.”

Adding McGrath as defence coach is also part of future-proofing the Blues.

“Craig brings that fresh approach and adds to the group of young coaches we have here now, who we are really keen to develop and grow as part of building strong foundations for ongoing success,” says MacDonald.

Schmidt says the support coach role will see him come full circle in his coaching journey having started in fully professional rugby with The Blues, after a successful tenure as Bay of Plenty’s assistant coach.

“I’m really looking forward to coming back and helping out the coaching staff at The Blues. I know pretty much the whole crew and it’s a nice fit stepping in for Tana, who I greatly respect.

“I have really enjoyed getting to know Leon. He is doing a great job and has got the team in a really good place after their success this year. I’ve also got a lot of time for Ice (McGrath) and look forward to linking up with him again,” says Schmidt.

For his part, McGrath remembers getting coaching notes from Schmidt after his first week of training with The Blues and says it gave him an insight into what was required at the professional level.

“I’m really grateful to The Blues, Auckland and to Leon for this opportunity – and having Joe involved means I get the opportunity to have access to all his experience, especially in defence, and get world-class professional development every day,” McGrath says.

He also sees the appointment as closing a loop. 

“Having been a player and then in my work with Honda we had an association with The Blues, so it was always at the back of mind that I wanted to come back to Auckland and The Blues at some stage.”

Both coaches will take up their new roles in the coming weeks as The Blues move into pre-season training ahead of the new Super Rugby Pacific 2022 season.

Source – All Blacks Rugby


International

Slipper to become most capped Wallaby of all-time in Bledisloe One

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Gold Coast junior and Wallaby number 843 James Slipper will become the most capped Wallaby of all-time when he runs out for his 140th Test on Saturday afternoon at Accor Stadium.

Making his debut in 2010 against England as a 21-year-old, Slipper will surpass George Gregan’s record after being named as the replacement loosehead prop for the first Bledisloe Cup Test against New Zealand in Sydney.

A stalwart of Australian Rugby, Slipper is one of just three Wallabies to feature in four Rugby World Cups and earlier this year broke the record for the most capped Test prop ever in International Rugby.

In further team news, Queensland pair Fraser McReight and Hunter Paisami return to the starting side after fully recovering from their injuries. The openside flanker is yet to feature in the 2024 Rugby Championship, while Paisami’s knee injury kept him out of the tour to Argentina.

Maitland junior Nic White will start at scrumhalf, partnering with Noah Lolesio who returns at flyhalf, while Tom Wright has overcome an ankle complaint to earn his spot at fullback.

Wright’s return sees Andrew Kellaway shift back to the right wing, with Marika Koroibete remaining on the left edge. Len Ikitau will reignite his combination with Paisami in the midfield.

Apart from McReight, the starting forward pack is unchanged with Angus Bell, Matt Faessler and Taniela Tupou the run on front row, with the side set to wear their First Nations jersey for the second time this year.

Nick Frost and Jeremy Williams will continue their partnership as the run on locks, with blindside flanker Rob Valetini and skipper Harry Wilson, joining McReight as the loose forward trio.

Western Sydney’s Brandon Paenga-Amosa will pull on the gold jersey for the first time since 2021after returning to Australian Rugby from France earlier this year. He’ll join Slipper and Allan Alaalatoa in an experienced replacement front row.

Lukhan Salakaia-Loto has also overcome injury to be selected as the substitute second rower, with Langi Gleeson to cover the backrow.

Reds duo Tate McDermott and Tom Lynagh are the replacement halves for the second straight Test, with Wiradjuri man Dylan Pietsch rounding out the matchday 23.

Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said: “The players have reconnected well this week for our last game on home soil this year.”

“We’ve acknowledged the poor finish to our time in Argentina and we’re keen to turn that around on what will be a particularly special day for James and his family.”

Watch all the action on Stan Sport with every Wallabies Test streaming ad-free, live and on demand with Wallabies at home in 4K UHD. Wallabies matches will also be shown live on the Nine Network.

Wallabies team to play New Zealand at Accor Stadium in Sydney on Saturday September 21 at 3:45pm AEST
  1. Angus Bell (31 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
  2. Matt Faessler (10 Tests) – USQ Saint
  3. Taniela Tupou (54 Tests) – Brothers Rugby
  4. Nick Frost (19 Tests) – Hornsby Lions
  5. Jeremy Williams (6 Tests) – Wahroonga Tigers
  6. Rob Valetini (46 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
  7. Fraser McReight (20 Tests) – Albany Creek Brumbies
  8. Harry Wilson (c) (17 Tests) – Gunnedah Red Devils
  9. Nic White (69 Tests) – Maitland Blacks
  10. Noah Lolesio (23 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
  11. Marika Koroibete (62 Tests) – Nasinu Secondary College, Fiji
  12. Hunter Paisami (29 Tests) – Harlequin Junior Rugby Club
  13. Len Ikitau (33 Tests) – Tuggeranong Vikings
  14. Andrew Kellaway (33 Tests) – Hunters Hill Rugby
  15. Tom Wright (31 Tests) – Clovelly Eagles


    Substitutes

  16. Brandon Paenga-Amosa (14 Tests) – Southern Districts
  17. James Slipper (139 Tests) – Bond Pirates
  18. Allan Alaalatoa (74 Tests) – West Harbour Juniors
  19. Lukhan Salakaia-Loto (35 Tests) – Randwick
  20. Langi Gleeson (7 Tests) – Harbord Harlequins
  21. Tate McDermott (35 Tests) – Flinders Rugby Club
  22. Tom Lynagh (3 Tests) – University of Queensland
  23. Dylan Pietsch (2 Tests) – Leeton Phantoms
Wallabies 2024 Tests
July Tests

Wallabies 25 defeated Wales 16, Saturday July 6 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

Wallabies 36 defeated Wales 28 on Saturday July 13 at AAMI Park, Melbourne

Wallabies 40 defeated Georgia 29 on Saturday July 20 at Allianz Stadium, Sydney

The Rugby Championship/Bledisloe Cup

Wallabies 7 defeated by South Africa 33, Saturday August 10 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane

Wallabies 12 defeated by South Africa 30 on Saturday August 17 at Optus Stadium, Perth

Wallabies 20 defeated Argentina 19 on Saturday August 31 at Estadio Uno Estudiantes de La Plata, La Plata

Wallabies 27 defeated by Argentina 67 on Saturday September 7 at Estadio Colon, Santa Fe

Wallabies v New Zealand, 3:45pm AEST, Saturday September 21 at Accor Stadium, Sydney

Wallabies v New Zealand, 5:05pm AEST, Saturday September 28 at Sky Stadium, Wellington

End of Year Tour

Wallabies v England, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday November 10, Twickenham, London

Wallabies v Wales, 3:10am AEDT, Monday November 18, Principality Stadium, Cardiff

Wallabies v Scotland, 12:40am AEDT, Monday November 25, Murrayfield, Edinburgh

Wallabies v Ireland, 2:10am AEDT, Sunday December 1, Aviva Stadium, Dublin

Tickets to the Wallabies 2024 Home Tests are available to purchase here.

The Bledisloe Cup in Sydney is supported proudly by the NSW Government through its tourism and major events agency, Destination NSW.

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International

Joe ‘Schmidt’n by chance to set up Wallabies for future

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New Wallabies boss Joe Schmidt has laid down his plans for his tenure as coach, focused on building the foundations for a successful side for years to come.

It was almost one year ago that Eddie Jones first spoke to the media, taking shots at Peter V’landys and galvanising Rugby supporters by talking up the game.

Don’t miss HSBC SVNS Perth in 2024: 26-28 January at HBF Park. Get your tickets now!

For Schmidt, you get the sense he’ll let his actions do the talking, referring to his character as ‘pragmatic’ and ‘boring.’

What the Kiwi is, however, is hungry to get the Wallabies back on track.

Schmidt witnessed the Wallabies’ World Cup struggles close by with the All Blacks, based an hour away from Australia’s Saint Etienne camp and believed they looked unrecognisable to the team that pushed his Irish side in 2018.

“I’m desperate for the Wallabies to be competitive and if I can help, that’s why I’m here,” he said.

“I think the global rugby family is desperate for the Wallabies to be where they need to be. British and Irish Lions, they want to have a fantastic series. We want to build toward that and give them exactly what they want and not make anything easy for them and two years after that, you’ve got a home World Cup and I’m desperate that the Wallabies are really competitive in that World Cup and we get through to those really competitive playoff rounds.”

The deal only takes Schmidt until the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the Kiwi was coy about whether he would stay on longer, which is understandable given his future.

The 58-year-old referenced his son with epilepsy, awarded an Honorary Fellowship of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland in 2019 for his advocacy work around the condition.

“It’s pretty much public knowledge that I have a young man at home who suffers quite badly with epilepsy and this job will take me away from the time that I’d committed to pitching in and helping him out,” he explained, having initially retired from coaching after his Ireland departure.

“If we can get the job done over the next 18 months and get the momentum heading in the right direction then I will feel like I’ve done my part of it and I’ll be happy to be hands-on. Or if some Australian coaches come through, I’m really keen to help get some of the Australian coaches more experience as well so they can pitch up and lead the Wallabies. 

“It’s certainly not a hit and run [mission]. For both RA and myself it is a good fit at that time. If you were going to make a change before the World Cup, you don’t want to do it a year out.

“You want to make sure you’ve got a decent run at it but at the same time if we get to the end of the British and Irish Lions series and things are going in the right direction and discussion amongst the board and Phil (Waugh) and Pete (Horne) is that the best thing is for me to stay, then that’s a bridge we will cross then.”

There will always be a reaction when a non-Australian takes on the Wallabies job (just ask Robbie Deans and Dave Rennie), but it’s a sign of modern sport when you look at the Matildas’ success with Sweden’s Tony Gustavsson.

“When I started in Ireland for example with Leinster or even when I started in Clermont, I didn’t speak any French. People would still say my accent is really bad but I speak it now. I invested in their culture and language and tried to assimilate myself but also to bring a real effort and endeavour to help them become better players and try to become the best version of themselves,” Schmidt explained.

“I think that formula still applies in a national side. Players recognise if you care about how they are developing and you’re investing in them, they’ll tend to invest in themselves in their teammates.

“Hopefully that will demonstrate where you originate from, you can still help and build a successful national team other than the country of your birth.”

But Schmidt’s appointment is all about developing the system around him that his predecessor referenced as being ‘broken’.

His assistant coaching staff will be largely Australian and the two year deal gives contenders Stephen Larkham and Dan McKellar the chance to further their expertise in Australia and abroad respectively.

“I’d love to get in (and help at Super Rugby level). I coached with Les Kiss for a couple of years. He’s up with the Reds. Darren here, Cronno … those guys. Stephen Larkham was coaching at Munster for a while,” Schmidt revealed.

“It’s a circuit that I’ve lived on for 20 years so you get to know a fair few people and it’ll be really good to get in and reconnect with some and reconnect with others and try to work out how they are going and what is really important to them and how they are building their team so we can try and collaborate and build some of that into how we put the Wallabies together.”

Schmidt may not be the ‘messiah’ that Eddie Jones was claimed to be. But his appointment just may be the turning point the Wallabies need.

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International

SA Rugby Private Equity Status Update

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Image Credit - World rugby

What is the state of play? SA Rugby has been approached by private equity companies who wish to acquire a shareholding in the sport’s commercial activities.

Why would you do such a deal? A private equity partnership offers not just an immediate financial boost but also crucially provides the expertise, networks, and resources necessary to enhance the commercial value of South African rugby. This collaboration can position SA Rugby, the Springboks and, eventually, other teams for greater global prominence.

Who are you talking to? The preferred bidder is Ackerley Sports Group (ASG), an American company that is an expansion of an investment company established in 2002 by brothers Ted and Christopher Ackerley. Ackerley Partners have owned all or a part of several professional sports franchises in American basketball, ice hockey, soccer, and rugby, and recently partnered with 49ers Enterprises to assume majority control of the Leeds United Football Club.

Why did you choose ASG? They were unanimously chosen by the members of SA Rugby – including the franchise owning unions – at a General Meeting of SA Rugby on 7 December 2023 after ASG, and another bidder, CVC, made presentations to the meeting. ASG’s offer primarily focuses on immediate financial gain and guaranteed income, with lower thresholds for contingency payments, presenting a straightforward proposal for a commercial partnership, which we believe could offer comprehensive advantages to our organization. The ultimate decision will hinge on balancing the immediate financial requirements with the long-term strategic objectives of our rugby organisation.

Is it a done deal? No, our team was mandated to pursue further discussion. The members of SA Rugby have agreed on the primary conditions, however, substantial effort is ongoing behind the scenes to finalise the specifics. Since the finer points are critical, no final approval will be granted until our members have been thoroughly briefed and a mandate secured. This process can only be agreed upon once our 14 members have approved it.

Who has sign off? Only one body – the member unions of SA Rugby, the sport’s shareholders. It cannot happen without their approval.

When will they see the details? Once a proposed final structure for the new company and its relationship with the existing SA Rugby structure has been finalised a series of workshops and information sessions will be undertaken to allow member unions to fully interrogate the deal. That structure is still a work in progress.

Are you selling the Springboks? No. The Springboks and all national teams will retain their existing management and ownership models. As national institutions, the Springboks and SA Rugby are not transferable to private equity. This strategy is about harnessing our commercial rights in partnership with an organisation, creating a separate entity dedicated to elevating our commercial profile.

So how will the Springboks be paid? The new commercial entity will remit an annual fee to cover all current operations of SA Rugby – from paying the Boks to providing funding to the unions.

What are the next steps: Once a proposed post-deal structure is nearing finalisation it will be workshopped with member unions. Until such time as that position has been reached it would be counter-productive to speculate on.

Is there a deadline for approval: While not definitive, it is anticipated that a conclusive proposal will be presented to the members at the Annual General Meeting scheduled for 30 May 2024, for their approval or rejection.

Content & Images from – South Africa Rugby


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