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Wallabies recruit four more assistant coaches and ex-England S&C boss
London Irish have issued a statement explaining why they have allowed assistant coach Brad Davis to link up with the Wallabies for the upcoming Rugby World Cup in France. The Gallagher Premiership club wrapped up its campaign last Saturday, with their win over Exeter securing a fifth-place finish. That success came amid the backdrop of a delayed payment in wages amid takeover talks with an American investment group.
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Assistant Davis will now miss preparations for the 2023/24 season with the Londoners, instead heading home on a temporary basis to work with Eddie Jones. A former professional rugby league player in the 1990s and 2000s, Davis previously held union coaching roles in the UK with Ospreys in the Pro14 and Bath and Wasps in the Premiership before joining Declan Kidney’s Irish.
A club statement read: “At the request of Australia Rugby, London Irish has agreed to secondment of assistant coach Brad Davis to the Australia coaching setup for the Rugby World Cup before returning to the club to resume his position at Hazelwood.
“Davis, who joined the Exiles in preparation for the 2019/2020 season, will join Eddie Jones and his staff for this summer’s Rugby Championship, the international fixtures against New Zealand and France, and the competition itself, which will take place in France later this year.”
London Irish boss Kidney said: “Everyone at the club wishes Brad the best of luck for his time with Australia, it’s an opportunity that he thoroughly deserves. International recognition, whether that be coaching or playing, is always a proud achievement for the club. Brad has had a fantastic impact since his arrival, and we look forward to welcoming him back with a wealth more of experience.”
Davis added: “Firstly, I want to thank Declan Kidney, Les Kiss and London Irish for giving me the opportunity to coach on the international stage, something that has always been a dream of mine. It’s a hugely exciting opportunity and I’m looking forward to gaining some fantastic experience from Eddie Jones and the rest of the Australian coaches.
“Like at London Irish, I will be working with an extremely talented group of players. I look forward to bringing all this experience back to London Irish to continue the upward trajectory that we are on.”
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The Wallabies also confirmed three other assistant appointments to Jones’ coaching staff. A Rugby Australia statement explained: “Current ACT Brumbies assistant and former Wallabies prop Dan Palmer has been brought on board as lineout coach and will work closely with Neal Hatley who was announced as forwards coordinator earlier this year. Hatley is set to link up with the team following the conclusion of the English Premiership where he is currently working with Bath.
“Frenchman Pierre-Henry Broncan has been appointed as a maul consultant. The 48-year-old former Castres boss took his side to the French Top 14 final last year and boasts coaching experience with Stade Toulouse and also worked at Bath Rugby in England for two years as a scout and analyst. The maul is an important part of the Wallabies’ attack.
“Meanwhile, former Wallabies fly-half Berrick Barnes will join the ranks on a part-time basis as a kicking consultant. The former Red and Waratah made his Test debut at the 2007 World Cup in France and was also part of the Wallabies 2011 Rugby World Cup squad, going on to play 51 Tests.
“Jones has also finalised his strength and conditioning team with the former head of England’s strength and conditioning program Jon Clarke to lead the S&C team with former Scarlets and Canberra Raiders coach Nigel Ashley-Jones as an assistant. John Pryor also returns to the Wallabies set up as a speed consultant, while Warrick Harrington remains in his role as a sport scientist.”
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Jones said: “We believe we have a quality coaching staff to plan and prepare the team for a Smash and Grab campaign, winning the Bledisloe Cup and finishing winning the Rugby World Cup. It is experienced, diverse and adaptable. Ready to smash and grab.”
2023 Wallabies coaching staff
Head coach: Eddie Jones
Attack coach: Brad Davis
Defence coach: Brett Hodgson
Forwards co-ordinator: Neal Hatley
Lineout coach: Dan Palmer
Maul consultant: Pierre-Henry Broncan
Kicking consultant: Berrick Barnes
Learning co-ordinator: David Rath
Strength and conditioning co-ordinator: Jon Clarke
Strength and conditioning coach: Nigel Ashley-Jones
Speed consultant: John Pryor
Sport scientist: Warrick Harrington
Comments on RugbyPass
Lets 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?
10 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.
10 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.
14 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 commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to comments