The Canberra Times reports on abject gutlessness from the Brumbies management.
The ACT Brumbies will break tradition to unveil a two-pronged coaching combination, backing club great Stephen Larkham as head coach and promoting Laurie Fisher to director of rugby to guide them glory.
The Brumbies will announce on Friday that Larkham and Fisher will team up to replace Jake White for the 2014 Super Rugby season.
I hope I’m wrong, but the recent history of the club has been less than glorious when responsibilities have been divided.
UPDATE: The Brumbies statement is even more concerning:
Laurie Fisher has been appointed the University of Canberra Brumbies Director of Rugby while Stephen Larkham is the club’s Head Coach, under the new coaching framework announced on Friday.
Using a structure common to European rugby clubs, both Fisher and Larkham take on new positions with the UC Brumbies for the next two seasons.
Fisher will control the UC Brumbies day-to-day rugby operations with elements like staffing, elite and academy program development, talent pathways and training structures.
Widely regarded as one of Australia’s best minds on the breakdown and general forwards play, Fisher will also maintain control of the forwards training, selections and recruitment. Fisher has held various positions with the UC Brumbies over the last 15 years including Head Coach, Forwards Coach, Ac ademy Coach, Runners Coach and Assistant Coach.
Fisher said he was looking forward to the challenge.
“I’m excited by the opportunity to lead the Brumbies over the next two seasons,” Fisher said.
“We have a motivated and hard working player group well supported by quality staff in all areas of the high performance program.”
One of the UC Brumbies favourite sons, Larkham will continue his legacy at the club as Head Coach having spent the last three seasons as the Backs Coach (2012-2013) and Attack Coach (2011).
As Head Coach, Larkham will have greater input and involvement with the overall organisation of the team and play a bigger part in recruitment and weekly selections.
Having ticked every box as a world class 10, there are few better qualified to run the UC Brumbies backs than Larkham. Within his capacity as Head Coach, Larkham will maintain control of backline training and selections and have greater authorit y of the team’s overall attacking philosophies.
“I’m very privileged and certainly very honoured to have been given this opportunity,” Larkham said.
“We have a great group of players at the moment and I’m looking forward to developing the team alongside Laurie.
“Laurie and I have worked extremely well together over the last two years. This new structure allows us to continue to deliver our coaching on the field, whilst sharing responsibility of it.”
UC Brumbies Chief Executive Andrew Fagan said the move was designed to get the most out of both coaches.
“This is an arrangement that draws on the strength of both coaches and we believe this structure will produce the best outcomes for the Brumbies moving forward,” Fagan said.
“It’s a win-win situation for us as a club. Both Laurie and Stephen are passionate about rugby in the ACT and have proven track records of consistent success with teams they are i nvolved with.
“On behalf of the club I’d like to congratulate both Laurie and Stephen on their appointments and I look forward to seeing a continuation of positive results from the Brumbies both on and off the field.”
So one coach running the forwards in complete isolation, including selection and recruitment, from the broader team.
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