Former Reds and Wallabies scrumhalf Sam Cordingley will join the Queensland Rugby Union in 2014 as Queensland Reds Rugby Operations Manager.
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Cordingley has been with the Melbourne Rebels for the past three seasons, originally as a foundation player in 2011, before taking on roles as Player Recruitment Manager in 2012 and most recently General Manager of Rugby.
He will finish up his current role with the Rebels in the coming weeks and start with the QRU in January.
In his new role, Cordingley will be responsible for the management of all rugby operations at the QRU, including integrity, player contracting and overseeing pathway programs from junior rugby through to the Reds.
Reds head coach Richard Graham said Cordingley would be a welcome addition to the team.
“We’re really happy to be able to welcome Sam back to Queensland,” Graham said.
“As a former Queensland and Wallabies player, Sam has a strong understanding of high-performance environments.
“He impressed me in our discussions surrounding the role and has some shown an excellent understanding around the current shape of rugby in Australia.
“Amongst a number of key areas he will oversee, Sam’s role is significant to ensuring Queensland Rugby remains a dominant force,” he added.
While he has called Melbourne home for the last three years, Cordingley felt the opportunity and timing were right to make the move north to his home state.
“I’ve spoken with Queensland Rugby CEO Jim Carmichael and Reds head coach Richard Graham and I got a real sense of the professionalism and aspirations of the club,” Cordingley said.
“The motivation for the move back to Queensland was first and foremost about my professional aspirations, but it’s obviously a nice bonus that I’ll be returning home to my family.
“I played for the Reds and I’m really proud of what the QRU has evolved in to. It’s nice to know I’ll be a part of that going forward.”
“That being said, I can’t speak highly enough of my time at the Rebels. They’ve come a long way since starting up in 2011 and they’re certainly on the right track.”
As a player, Cordingley made his Super Rugby debut for the Reds in 1999 and went on to represent the side 43 times from 1999 to 2001 and 2006 to 2008. He also represented Australia 22 times, including at the 2007 World Cup.
The Reds kick off 2014 with two pre-season trial matches against the Chiefs in Toowoomba on February 8 and the Melbourne Rebels at Ballymore Stadium on February 14.