John Connolly
Former Reds and Wallabies coach John Connolly will joined the Reds’ coaching staff as a consultant this Monday, in advance of their home game against the Melbourne Rebels.
Connolly will be contracted to the Reds for the remainder of the 2015 Super Rugby season and for the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Connolly has almost 20 years of experience coaching at the elite level and was head coach of the Reds during a golden era from 1989 to 2000, during which time they won Super Six (1992) and Super 10 (1994, 1995) titles.
He also coached in Europe for 6 years, winning a premiership with Stade Français and earning European Coach of the Year honours with Bath. He then led the Wallabies in 2006 and 2007, including at the Rugby World Cup in France.
His 1st function will be to primarily work with and mentor Reds head coach Richard Graham, the wider Reds coaching and high performance staff and the playing group for the remainder of the 2015 season.
Queensland Rugby CEO Jim Carmichael said: “The last 2 seasons’ results have been very disappointing for the team and for all of our fans. It is also simply unacceptable to the organisation.
“For some time we have been conducting an extensive review of our high performance area to ensure our structures and systems deliver the expected outcomes. Through this process we have identified areas that require strengthening to provide our team and coaching staff with the appropriate support moving forward.
“John’s appointment provides an important layer of that support and will also offer further valuable insights to our ongoing review due for completion at the end of the current season. Meanwhile other important appointments in support of the coaching staff will be announced in the coming weeks.”
Queensland Rugby Chairman Rod McCall said: “John is a very proud Queenslander and is in a position to, and wants to help. He has achieved outstanding success at many levels as a coach and the wealth of experience he brings, coupled with his insatiable desire to win can only be a positive for the Reds as we seek to unlock the massive potential we know this team possesses.”
Richard Graham
Under-threat Reds coach Richard Graham said Monday he welcomes the appointment of former Wallabies coach John Connolly as a consultant to rebuild the team’s shattered Super Rugby season.
Reports said Graham has the remaining 5 weeks of the regular Super Rugby season to save his career.
“I welcome the help, there’s no doubt about it,” Graham told reporters in Brisbane.
“We’ve had some really good discussions on everything this morning, from the way the game’s played currently to the way we’re playing the game, and it’s just about coming up with the best way forward.
“I’m still clear on the direction we want to go but bringing in someone of John’s experience, at times you need to listen.”
Graham said he believes he still has the backing of the players, but knows there is only one way to keep his job.
“Sport’s about winning,” Graham said.
“I’m a realist, but at the same time I’m a fighter. We’ve got 5 games to go and I’m very keen to see us be as successful as we can.”
(SuperSport)
Brad Thorn
Following the announcement of John Connolly’s appointment as coaching consultant, Reds forwards coach Nick Stiles has been re-signed for a further 3 years as a senior assistant coach.
Also, World Cup winner Thorn has been appointed Reds elite development squad forwards coach for 3 years.
In support staff, Queensland Rugby has appointed former Reds and Brumbies strength and conditioning coach Damian Marsh as head of athletic performance.
Queensland CEO Jim Carmichael said: “As I have said previously, we have been conducting a review of our high performance area for some time, which is continuing, in order to deliver our short and long-term outcomes.
“We’ve identified areas that require strengthening to provide the team with the appropriate support and structures moving forward.”
Stiles, a former Queensland and Wallabies prop, has been the Reds Forwards Coach for the past 2 seasons and also led Brisbane City to the inaugural National Rugby Championship title as head coach in 2014.
He has been signed as a senior assistant coach with Queensland for the next 3 seasons and said he was looking forward to continuing to develop the Reds’ pack.
“I’m obviously very excited to be re-signing for the next 3 seasons,” Stiles said.
“The forward pack has developed well over the last 2 years, particularly in the set piece, and I intend to build on this further in the next 3 years.
“James Slipper and Rob Simmons have committed to the program and I believe we have the best young forwards in the country, so there is plenty of growth left in this pack.
“I’m a proud Queenslander and nothing excites me more than the prospect of helping rebuild this program under the direction the QRU are going.”
Thorn recently announced his retirement from playing after a celebrated 22-year professional sporting career across Rugby League and Rugby Union, including winning the 2011 World Cup with the All Blacks.
He will join Queensland in November as Reds elite development squad forwards coach, but given his unique skill-set and successful playing history he will also be used in a number of areas of the Reds professional program.
“I am very excited about becoming involved with the Reds and am grateful for the chance to continue my involvement in Rugby,” Thorn said.
“I’m looking forward to the opportunity of working with the boys and sharing what I have learnt over the years. My family and I are excited about moving back to Brisbane and starting this next chapter in our lives.”
Marsh brings with him more than a decade of experience in athletic performance, having previously worked with the Brumbies from 2000 to 2009 before moving to Queensland to take on the role as Reds head performance coach from 2009 to 2013.
He has worked with the Brumbies for the past 2 Super Rugby seasons.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Brumbies, but I’m looking forward to returning to the Reds,” Marsh said.
There will be further announcements regarding the coaching structure of the Reds and player retention in the coming weeks.
(rugby365)