International coach calls time on Test duty after 12-year service

Long-serving Croatia men’s head coach, Anthony Posa, has stood down from his role to concentrate on taking his club side, Sheffield RUFC, to the next level.

The New Zealander, who was educated at Auckland Grammar and played full-back for Croatia, has been employed by the Croatian Rugby Union for the last 12 years, having also led the men’s sevens and women’s 15s teams at different points during that time.

Under Posa, Croatia won promotion to the Rugby Europe Trophy in 15s in 2022 and the Rugby Europe Championship in 7s the following year.

Looking back, the 55-year-old cites those two achievements as his proudest moments in charge.

“Doing the Grand Slam with the 15s and winning promotion to the Trophy straight after Covid, with no outside players, was pretty special. And to stay at Trophy level until this day, despite only having four clubs and fighting above our weight all the time.

“But it is not just that, it is the way we played as well. Even when we lose, we score four or five tries. The boys have loved it and I have immense pride over that.

“And then you have the 7s promotion, where we went to play with the big boys, coming second in the Trophy and going up to play France and Great Britain and Ireland. One of my players was selling corn on the beach one minute and the next he was playing against Hansen for Ireland or Dupont, it was just ridiculous.”

Having narrowly missed out on promotion last season, Yorkshire club Sheffield RUFC are riding high at the top of English rugby’s National 2 North after 16 wins out of 16, 15 with a try bonus point.

“Listen, all good things have to come to an end. My heart wanted me to stay with Croatia but my head said this is the right time,” Posa added.

“My club, Sheffield, is doing pretty well and I can now focus on helping them create history, too.”