1
Kyran Bracken's 3 sons are all following in the No9 footsteps of their ex-England scrum-half father
England World Cup winner Kyran Bracken is doing his best to bolster his country’s scrum-half options as his three sons have all followed their father into the No9 position that brought him 51 caps in a ten-year Test career. Bracken is watching his sons set off on their own rugby adventures, admitting that it could create an interesting rivalry in the future with all three opting for the scrum-half role.
ADVERTISEMENT
A member of the 2003 World Cup-winning England squad, Bracken has used his experience and skills over the years as a No9 expert to help the careers of Leicester’s Ben Youngs and Danny Care at Harlequins, but his latest coaching assignment is light years away from the Gallagher Premiership.
Bracken has agreed to become backs coach at Wanstead, who play in London 2 North-East, alongside Kiwi head coach Jeremy Walmsley with both men also coaching the St Albans school first XV. Running in parallel with his coaching work, the 48-year-old is keeping a close eye on the progress of sons Charlie, Jack and Lochlan.
Charlie is already in the Saracens system, the club where his father enjoyed so much success, and Jack is also following the same pathway. ”Charlie is 16, with the Saracens academy and doing well,” said Bracken to RugbyPass.
“My middle son Jack is two years younger and is also on the Saracens course and my youngest son Lochlan, who is 11, is playing a year up and is outstanding. I haven’t really thought this through because I don’t think it is wise to have them all at the same club. I think I will have to farm them out!
Another promising chip off an old blockhttps://t.co/jMUlg9jGZv
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) June 3, 2020
“The lads started out at fly-half or a centre and then moved to scrum-half, learning from me passing the ball, and it made sense. Charlie has a better pass than me now off both hands.
“We have seen a spike of sons coming through following their fathers into the game and it will be interesting to see if any of them make it. If they are lucky enough to make it they will probably have to go elsewhere.”
ADVERTISEMENT
Former England No9 Bracken, who showcases his scrum-half skills on the @Ruckit_podcast with former England No8 Nick Easter, acknowledged that the demands on a scrum-half at the highest level have increased, claiming that All Black Aaron Smith is an outstanding example of what is needed to succeed in the modern era.
“The game has changed for a scrum-half, particularly in terms of fitness because the ball in play longer and you tend to move side to side. The skill level required, having to get a box kick on the money with guys trying to charge you down means it is getting harder and harder.
“If you look at Antoine Dupont for France and Aaron Smith in New Zealand, they are crucial with everything revolving around them. I just wish other scrum-halves would look at Smith’s game and see how gets the ball away, and the Japanese No9s are a breath of fresh air.
“I will try and improve the scrum-halves at Wanstead and their skill levels, but coaching is a hobby for me rather than making a career out of it. I did specialist coaching with Saracens. Then Leicester got me up to work with Ben Youngs and at Harlequins with Danny Care over a five- or six-year period.
ADVERTISEMENT
“I really enjoy helping at St Albans school where my boys go and I work with Jeremy who asked if I would do sessions at Wanstead. Jeremy wants to play like the Highlanders and I want to be a bit more pragmatic.”
Putting sport in #EastLondon, West Essex on the map – Wanstead RFC gets further press coverage after hiring former England, Saracens star Kyran Bracken as coach, and Jeremey Walmsley as head coach, https://t.co/qdof6jUeir
— Wanstead RFC (@WansteadRFC) June 3, 2020
Comments on RugbyPass
Jordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
21 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA 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?
13 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.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
5 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.
25 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
5 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…??? 🤑🤑🤑
38 Go to comments