Coaching Team Confirmed
Coaching Team Confirmed
Coaching Team Confirmed
By Andrew Collins June 26 2008
The Cardiff Blues have put the final piece in the coaching team jig saw for the foreseeable future, following the addition of Justin Burnell as forwards coach. Burnell joins Bill Millard and Gareth Baber in the coaching revamp.
Coaching Team Confirmed
The Cardiff Blues have put the final piece in the coaching team jig saw for the foreseeable future, following the addition of Justin Burnell as forwards coach. Burnell joins Bill Millard and Gareth Baber in the coaching revamp.
40-year old Burnell has just completed his finest season as Cardiff RFC Head coach, taking the Blue and Blacks to second in the league, as well as beating League and Cup champions Neath, both home and away.
It's a remarkable turnaround for the club side, who were languishing near the bottom of the table prior to Burnell's appointment as head coach just 3 seasons ago. He is one of the most clued up men in Welsh rugby, and has been hotly tipped already by many, as a future Welsh coach. He'll take up the forwards role starting in July.
Burnell joins fellow young coaches Baber and Millard in Dai Young's reshuffled pack, in what is already looking like an exciting partnership.
Former Wales 7's coach Baber joins also from Burnell's coaching set up at the RFC. Again, Baber is highly thought of in the world of coaching, but has been seen as a risk by some supporters. He takes over from the departing Rob Howley in the role of backs coach.
Australian Millard takes up a new position as Young's assistant. The 38 year old Australian is known on the sevens circuit and has most recently been backs coach at Australia A.
The Blues have come under fire for employing two men who are best know for their ability in sevens rugby, but I believe it's a shrewd move by Young, with the XV man game becoming far more fast paced and open from next season, following the introduction of the ELVs (Experimental Law Variations) which will see more free kicks being awarded.
With Howley already departing the region, he could yet be joined by one or more of the current staff. Following Burnell's arrival, the future of fan favourite Dan Baugh has come into question. Baugh previously held the role of forwards coach, and it's not known where this appointment leaves the Canadian.
Plus of course, there is still the possibility that Dai Young himself could leave the region. Young is one of the most talented coaches in Britain, and has recently become the target of English giants, Leicester Tigers. Peter Thomas has insisted that Young will not be allowed to talk to the Tigers, and he will see out at least until the end of his current 2 year contract.
However, Leicester are no normal club, and have the pulling power equivalent to football's Real Madrid. There's no secret that Young is on their hit list to replace Marcello Loffreda, and it's even thought he'd been made their number one target, the only question remains whether or not the Blues can hold on to their prize possession.
Until then at least, and Cardiff go into pre-season 08/09 with perhaps the most promising and talented young coaching teams in the Heineken Cup.
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StumbleuponRe: Coaching Team Confirmed
Posted by: Spence (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:06:26:23:13:21
One of the most exciting coaching teams maybe, but will that make up for what in my view is a decidedly weaker squad than last season. So far it seems there will be less quality and quantity with the likes of Stitch and and McLeod making way for Sweeney and Mustoe. Brew's an okay signing, but not in the same league as the inspriational players we should be strengthening with. He's also the wrong position... has Dai not noticed the frankly remarkable mediocrity we have at scrum half compared to the rest of the squad?
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