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Blues coach Tom Coventry recommits to franchise for two more years
Blues forwards coach Tom Coventry has inked a fresh two-year contract extension that will keep him at the Auckland-based franchise until 2024.
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Coventry has been part of the Blues set-up since joining from North Harbour in 2019 and has played an integral role in helping the side develop into one of the strongest teams in Super Rugby.
That much was reflected by their title-winning campaign in last year’s Super Rugby Trans-Tasman, the third Super Rugby crown Coventry has won after assisting the Chiefs to back-to-back championships in 2012 and 2013.
Winning that silverware is representative of the rejuvenation the Blues have undergone over the past two seasons, which has seen them shed their under-achiever status and blossom into a Super Rugby Pacific title frontrunner this season.
Coventry revealed on Tuesday that being part of that renaissance played a significant role in his decision to stay onboard with the Blues for a further two years.
“It was an easy decision, actually. It’s been a really good three or four years for me here and I felt the club’s in a good space moving forward,” Coventry told media of his contract extension.
“I enjoy the coaching staff when I join the team and I’m happy being in Auckland at the moment, too, with my family and it’s good to be able to secure another season with the team.
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“You feel like you’re part of the growth of the outfit. You’re one of many, but being part of change, part of recruiting players into the group that hopefully are going to make a difference, and continue onwards, that’s a big part of it.
“I feel like I’m part of the fabric at the moment. Like rugby, it can be tenuous at times, but you enjoy the good times over the past couple of seasons, and there’s been a lot of good times to focus back on.”
Formerly a coach at Hawke’s Bay, the Chiefs, London Irish and North Harbour, Coventry provides the Blues with plenty of experience and expertise as part of a strong coaching lineup led by head coach Leon MacDonald.
Coventry’s fellow assistants include scrum coach Ben Afeaki, backs coach Dan Halangahu and strength and conditioning coach Phil Healy, all of whom work alongside each other well, according to Blues chief executive Andrew Hore.
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“We are thrilled to have Tom continue with the Blues,” Hore said via a statement.
“Together with our head coach Leon MacDonald, Dan Halangahu, Ben Afeaki and our strength and conditions coach Phil Healey, we have seen this group develop into an outstanding coaching unit.
“The individuals have such different skillsets, but they have gelled together so well. They have great respect for eachother, but can also ask the tough questions.
“Tom knows what it takes to be successful and together with Ben, they have developed a formidable forward pack.”
Coventry and the Blues will kick their 2022 Super Rugby Pacific campaign off next month when the face cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium on February 18.
Comments on RugbyPass
I’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
137 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to commentsWhat ifs are always dangerous. If you look at the game before Sam cane got sent of SA was dominating. You could make the argument the going down to 14 men rallied the troops and made them have to play to win which is always dangerous.
137 Go to commentsOmg… you are bruised And battered Benny. Stop crying … the scoreboard speaks. What a pathetic lover you are.. 🤣🤣🤣
137 Go to commentsPacific Lions, cry me a river
137 Go to commentsThis is the single worst piece of journalism I have ever seen since your last one. As a neutral, who really states that there should be an asterisk next to a win? You are an utter embarrassment to real AB fans, journalism and that joke of a house which pays you for this nonsense. Get a life, Ben.
137 Go to commentsGuys. Cancel the World Cup champions after this analysis. It changes everything. Ben knows. We’ll have to unengrave the Bokke off the trophy and hand it to the ABs, now that I’ve been enlightened about this illegitimate win. This needs to be done. Now!
137 Go to commentsBen is right here though, Springboks were woefully poor with the advantage they had throughout this game. The France match was heroic because that was an even contest this match had it taken place in Rugby Championship would have been an easy win for NZ. If anything this match should tell the Bok coaches that a lot of this team should be changed. They beat this same NZ team by record margin with the same circumstances but with a different core. They bring back the tried and tested guys and they nearly botch this game.
137 Go to commentsI knew who wrote this article from the first few words in the headline…lol. The red card actually did the ABs a favour. It galvanized them, only then did they step up a gear. Before that there was zero momentum.
137 Go to commentsFirstly the foul on Bongi was a planned move just like the NZ master plan with Bryce Lawrence you kiwis are filthy fux perhaps try to play a cleaner game next time I doubt that’s possible tho but don’t worry world rugby is on yr side they trying to take away all the BOKS strengths to help all you weakling as Jeremy Clarkson would say LA OO ZA ERR..🤣
137 Go to commentsAbsolutely spot on Ben. I certainly wouldn't gloat over a win like that. Frustrating as it is it's done and dusted and history will forever show the result.
137 Go to commentsHo hum.
137 Go to commentsNo question they were the better team. But that is the beauty of sport isn’t it!
137 Go to commentsEveryone is into Hurling in Ireland according to Porter, but only 11 of Ireland's 32 counties enter a team into the national competition. Same old blarney.
1 Go to commentsLet’s be honest. The draw and scheduling in the World Cup was a joke but South Africa found a way after having to go the hard (nearly impossible) way to the Cup Final via France and England. NZ had a hard game against France (lost) and had 5 weeks to prepare for the Quarter, 3 weeks knowing it was Ireland. NZ theerfore had to win one big game against an Irish team who played SA and then Scotland 7 days before. They won and it was de facto a semi final because they were playing a relatively weak Argentina team and it was a walk over. In the final a very rested NZ team was playing a very tired SA team and still lost. They couldn’t score more than 11 points. Put another way SA had to find a way to win while tired and they achieved that. NZ should thank their lucky stars that they fixed the scheduling in 2015 otherwise they would be dealing with a Bok treble.
137 Go to commentsPerhaps if Bongi wasn’t targeted and removed from the game in the first 3 minutes it would have been quite a different game. Maybe if NZ also faced the same competition the Boks faced to their win NZ would have looked quite different. The final score shows who outplayed who.
137 Go to commentsRubbish article! Abuladze played most of Exeters matches when fit. He got injured against Glasgow a while ago and is out for the rest of the season, thats why he hasnt played for Exeter and Georgia recently. Do some proper research next time!
1 Go to commentsGotta love it when kids throw their toys out the pram and can’t hack it with the grown ups debate. Here’s looking at you turlough! 😉🤣
148 Go to commentsThey lost the game period move on
137 Go to commentsSpringboks won! Stop winging. You can change the game however much you and your rugby colonizing IRB want to and the Springboks will win you at that too. Your mind is colonized my friend get a life
137 Go to comments