RugbyRebels

This provoked some interesting responses on twitter.

Anyone spring to mind who you think might take to coaching and make a success of it?

G.Ford

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:56 pmG.Ford

That's the obvious one, isn't it?

I used to think Robshaw would make a top coach, but he doesn't seem to be going that route. Didn't appear to have too many coaching responsibilities or have a big impact on San Diego when he went to America and now appears to have settled as a pundit rather than a coach.

Puja

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 12:56 pmG.Ford

Looking at the first half of this season it seems that Sale signed both Tigers flyhalf and attack coach in the summer.

Harry Wells I think has his coaching badges and reffing qualifications already. I'd love to see him as a ref, the man likes a death stare and woe betide the first mouthy halfback.

Owen Farrell is another obvious one.

Rich Lane

p/d wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 1:22 pmRich Lane

I’ve heard he’s already been lined up as Supreme and Eternal Leader of World Rugby.

Jimmy Gopperth has done his badges

Ultimately, the ones who make it big in coaching will be some tight 5 forwards who no-one would have really considered - always seems to be hookers and locks who make their way up to international head coach roles.

Ewels

Which Tyler wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:30 pm Ultimately, the ones who make it big in coaching will be some tight 5 forwards who no-one would have really considered - always seems to be hookers and locks who make their way up to international head coach roles.

When I went through the coaching ladder I was generally the only back in any given course- the mysteries of the tight seemed to outweigh things like handling skills and manipulating defences and even kicking (the coaches on what was called the 'Top Coaches' course were all forwards, who had to ask me about even rudimentary backs moves; all the assessors were forwards, including Mark Evans (who was brilliant tbf)); in fact in the courses I did, up to England senior coaching badge, there were no modules even on kicking from hand....bizarre, and not much on defence. Probably changed now though

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:22 pm Jimmy Gopperth has done his badges

He would; the kiwis quite rightly are very hot on earning your coaching spurs; back in the day, very few would go straight to coaching in the mens/senior game. They all had to work their way up through junior/age group rugby. IMO this is good; being a top player does not mean you automatically are a decent coach- in fact, possibly the reverse. If you are 'blessed' with talent, or massive intrinsic commitment (say), you may well find it hard to understand how to help someone to whom these things don't come naturally.

George Ford got a lot of support on twitter but so did Billy Twelvetrees. Ewels, Alex Goode, Faz and Gopperth mentioned.

Mark Wilson has just started coaching at Newcastle and he might be one to keep an eye on.

Banquo wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:21 pm

Epaminondas Pules wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 2:22 pm Jimmy Gopperth has done his badges

He would; the kiwis quite rightly are very hot on earning your coaching spurs; back in the day, very few would go straight to coaching in the mens/senior game. They all had to work their way up through junior/age group rugby. IMO this is good; being a top player does not mean you automatically are a decent coach- in fact, possibly the reverse. If you are 'blessed' with talent, or massive intrinsic commitment (say), you may well find it hard to understand how to help someone to whom these things don't come naturally.

Reminds me of stories I heard of Julian White towards the end of his playing days. He tried a scrum coaching session with the Tigers academy front row to see if he might go down the coaching route but apparently found it hard to explain how he managed to harness such ridiculous power (and possibly how he managed to have such a long top level career with such awful handling skills). Needless to say he went on to a post playing career in farming.

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:31 pm so did Billy Twelvetrees.

And we all know why….

Mellsblue wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 8:12 pm

fivepointer wrote: ↑Fri Jan 06, 2023 5:31 pm so did Billy Twelvetrees.

And we all know why….

I don't! I've spent 36 minutes trying to figure this out!