Five up-and-coming coaches to keep an eye on
In the wake of Jim Mallinder’s departure from Northampton Saints on Tuesday, the rumour mill has whirred into action around the coaches that could potentially fill the void left at Franklin’s Gardens.
The usual names have all been mentioned, with Mike Ford, Stuart Lancaster and Jake White all linked with the vacancy.
Any of the three could do a fine job but are they the men Northampton want to build around long-term?
The likes of Johan Ackermann and Pat Lam are highly-prized coaches and seem to combine the four key characteristics that club’s want in head coaches and/or directors of rugby. They are innovative, they have an attacking mindset, they are experienced, and they are great team-builders.
With this in mind, we thought we would take a look at five up-and-coming coaches who, whilst not having the experience of Lam or Ackermann, do tick the other boxes.
They might not be the prestigious names that Northampton will have in mind for this role, but they are talented rugby coaches who are worth keeping an eye on over the coming years.
Tom Williams, Harlequins
The former Harlequins player has been on the coaching staff at the club for the last two years and, as Academy Transition Coach, played a key role in moulding the Quins side that won the U18 Academy League last season.
He has helped develop budding stars like Marcus Smith, Gabriel Ibitoye and Joe Marchant and the rugby IQ of the players coming out of the Quins academy is a testament to his ability as a coach.
Joe Shaw, Saracens
Alex Sanderson and Kevin Sorrell rightfully get their praise for helping mastermind Saracens’ march to the top, but what about skills coach Shaw?
The club may be in a wretched run of form right now, but has there been a northern hemisphere side in the professional era that so effectively and so consistently executes the basic skills as well as Saracens? He has clearly had a marked effect, alongside Sorrell, on Saracens’ attacking proficiency over the last few years and would be quite the coup for any side looking for an attack or head coach.
Richard Whiffin, Gloucester
Whiffin, the head of Gloucester’s academy, has had the Gloucester U18 side playing fast, clinically and with no shortage of skill, and is another example of why academy coaches have so many of the qualities that clubs seem to want in their senior coaches.
Academy coaches can’t go out and sign players for their academy, they have to develop and make the most of the talent they have at their disposal. Many of them are excellent candidates as “team-builders” and whilst not being flashy names, they could do excellent jobs if given a chance.
Chim Gale, Worcester Warriors
Another academy manager, Gale has helped turn Worcester’s academy into one of the most productive in the Premiership and has helped produce talents like Jack Singleton, Jamie Shillcock and Will Butler, as well prospects like Ted Hill and Ollie Lawrence, who will make their marks in the coming years.
Gale has experiencing playing and coaching in 7s, something which is becoming a much more valued attribute in prospective senior coaches.
Mark Laycock, Newcastle Falcons
A largely unheralded figure in Newcastle’s dramatic improvements over the last few seasons, Laycock holds the dual role of academy manager and senior skills coach at the Falcons.
As with Shaw and Saracens, the uptick in Newcastle’s ability to execute skills in offensive situations has a lot to do with Laycock and he should be a highly coveted coach for any club looking to develop their attacking game.
Comments on RugbyPass
A wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
11 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
11 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
24 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
10 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
35 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
35 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
17 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to comments