Following a disappointing season of Super Rugby action, a sacked coach and finishing way below their play-off target set at the start of the season, the Blues have announced their full coaching line-up for Super Rugby 2013, and it is quite a team they have put together.
John Kirwan was appointed head coach a few weeks ago, and he has put together a team of coaches that includes Sir Graham Henry, winner of the Rugby World Cup with New Zealand in 2011, as well as having the current All Balcks skills coach, Mick Byrne, on board.
SuperXV.com reports that the full coaching staff will be as follows:
John Kirwan – Head coach / Attacking coach
Graham Henry – Technical advisor / Defence coach
Mick Byrne – Forwards coach / Kicking coach
Grant Doorey – Backline coach / Skills coach
Grant Doorey worked with Kirwan during his stints in Japan and Italy.
The Blues should, if all things go according to plan, be a force to be reckoned with, especially with the pool of players available and now the experienced coaching combination.
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Do any of the SA rugby unions employ skill coaches?
Phwoar, thats quite impressive.
Step in right direction. Looks like the team to beat next year. We all in SA say it will be tuff to play the Blues, Chiefs and Canes next year, wonder if they(NZ) say yoh we have to play the Sharks, Bulls and Stormers!
What are our coaching staff like? do we employ recognised kicking and skills coaches
Big indeed 😈
Isn’t it a little strange that the forwards coach is also the kicking coach? Kind of like Percy teaching people how to scrum.
@Bakmister (Comment 3) : Don’t think so, but I’m pretty sure they’re saying, ‘Hell yeah! We are playing the Cheethas and Lions/Kings’ 😈
@vanmartin (Comment 1) : yes, the Kings! Brad Mooar is our skills coach!
Very progressive and mature, we are light years behind…