Leicester statement: New coach named after list of 40 whittled down
Leicester have named Australian-based coach Dan McKellar as their new head coach for the 2023/24 season. Tigers lost title-winning boss Steve Borthwick to England in December and interim boss Richard Wigglesworth will also join the national team at the end of the current season. All this movement paved the way for Leicester to size up the recruitment market and they have now decided that McKellar is their new man.
A statement read: “Leicester Tigers have appointed Dan McKellar to the role of head coach on a long-term deal, commencing from July 1. McKellar will join Tigers from Rugby Australia where he has been the Wallabies senior assistant coach since 2021 and was head coach of Super Rugby side the ACT Brumbies from 2018-2022.
“During his five-year tenure as head coach with the Brumbies, he guided the club to the inaugural Super Rugby AU competition in 2020 and were runners-up in 2021, as well as semi-finalists in 2019 and 2022. Prior to taking up the head coach role in the ACT, McKellar was an assistant coach at the Brumbies from 2014-17.
“His previous coaching roles were forwards coach at Japanese club NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (2013), head coach of the University of Canberra Vikings (2014) in the Australian National Rugby Championship, head coach of the Tuggeranong Vikings in Canberra (2011-12) and head coach of Souths Rugby Club in Brisbane (2008-10).
“Before moving into coaching, McKellar made more than 150 senior appearances as a loosehead prop for Souths Rugby Club and spent two seasons in the Queensland Reds squad from 2005-06, as well as stints in Ireland and Scotland in the latter stages of his playing career. McKellar departs Rugby Australia effective immediately and will begin as Leicester head coach ahead of the 2023/24 pre-season.”
McKellar said: “This has been a big decision for me and my family, to make the move to the other side of the world together, but it is one that we are very much looking forward to doing, to be a part of a club like Leicester Tigers. There are strong links with the community, with the supporters and knowing that I will be a part of game days at Mattioli Woods Welford Road with 25,000 people in the stands lights a fire for me.
“What else stood out for me was that the club takes great pride in having a very strong academy programme where we can develop our own players both culturally and from a rugby perspective. In the experiences I have had in the northern hemisphere, as part of tours with Australia, I have seen the passion for the game and the genuine love for the game that there is and that is what I want to be involved in.
“The Tigers DNA is built around a combative style of rugby, with a strong set piece and defence, and that is something that I felt aligned strongly with myself. As well as that, we will be a side that attack in the right areas of the field and challenge teams in the right areas of the field.
“I see a squad of players at Leicester Tigers that I believe can evolve, can grow and have areas that I can add value to and help develop individuals to improve the team as a whole. It is important to me that the Leicester Tigers side I lead is one that represents what the club is about and what it stands for.”
Leicester CEO Andrea Pinchen added: “We are delighted to be able to confirm Dan McKellar’s appointment to the head coach role at Leicester Tigers from next season. This has been a rigorous process over a period of almost six months and always been about ensuring that we found the very best coach to lead this club into the future and Dan McKellar is that coach.
“He has displayed the characteristics of someone who understands what Leicester Tigers is about and is highly committed to seeing the club be successful and, more importantly, consistently successful.
“In all of the stages of this process, from early on in using data analytics to identify a list of 40 potential candidates, right up until meeting him and his family, we have been hugely impressed by the way in which Dan fits what Leicester Tigers is about.
“His style of coaching, his interactions and passion for wanting to improve players, his interest in developing Tigers-made players and our connection with our community has shown he understands the uniqueness of this club. Dan is committed to long-term success at Leicester Tigers and we are looking forward to welcoming him and his family in the summer, before getting to work together.”
Pinchen continued: “While this is exciting news for the future of our club, the current campaign remains incredibly important to everyone at Leicester Tigers. This is not a club that has transition years and under the guidance of Richard Wigglesworth, we remain steadfast in finishing this season successfully.
“Richard, Aled Walters and the coaching team have done an exceptional job in difficult circumstances during these past couple of months and – as they have throughout their entire time at Leicester Tigers – are giving everything to finishing the season strongly.
“I cannot compliment the coaching team, our playing group, staff and all of our supporters highly enough for the way in which everybody has adapted and continued to give everything for Leicester Tigers during a challenging year. We are excited for the future, yes, but what is most important is the now and continuing to give our supporters, partners and Leicester the very best from Tigers.”
Comments on RugbyPass
“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.
9 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.
22 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.
9 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 commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to comments