Brumbies keep it local
Thu, 05 Jun 2008 09:11
The Brumbies have decided to keep it local and appointed three former players to their coaching staff for the 2009 season - including Wallaby Julian Huxley, who was forced to retire this year due to a brain tumour.
Utility back Huxley, 28, stopped playing after a benign tumour was discovered on his brain in March. He has since had surgery and is recovering.
The Brumbies confirmed on Thursday that incoming head coach Andy Friend will be joined by former Brumbies and Wallaby players Owen Finegan (assistant coach – forwards), Bill Young (assistant coach – scrum) and Huxley (kicking coach).
Former Harlequins Rugby League coach Tony Rea will join the Brumbies as a defence and skills coach.
Huxley, who made his international debut against Wales last year before he was selected as part of the Wallabies' 2007 World Cup squad, has played 53 Super Rugby games and scored 270 points.
He says he is pleased to remain a part of the Brumbies.
"While I would love to be playing, circumstances haven't allowed that and I'm very pleased and excited to have the opportunity to continue my involvement with the Brumbies," he said.
"Obviously it was important to take a step back at the end of the season to focus on my health but now that's in check I'm very keen to be involved with the side.
"Having played with the Brumbies, Reds and Wallabies during my career and not being too far removed from the game, I feel I have something to offer the side and I'm pleased I can continue being of value to the squad."
Rea joins the Brumbies having spent six years as head coach and Director of the London Broncos (now Harlequins RL).
The former Rugby League hooker spent nine years playing at the elite level with the North Sydney Bears (1988-1994) in Australia's National Rugby League and the London Broncos (1994-1996) in the UK's Super League.
Rea says he's looking forward to joining the Brumbies for the next three seasons.
"This is a new challenge and one I'm really looking forward to," he said.
"The Brumbies have an outstanding reputation across the globe for being a very professional organisation and a dynamic and innovative rugby side. I'm looking forward to being part of what is a fantastic coaching staff and a popular and exciting rugby side."
Finegan joins the senior squad after coaching the Brumbies Academy and assisting the Brumbies' line-out in 2008.
Finegan played 92 matches for the Brumbies between 1996 and 2005, scoring 30 tries for the side – a tournament record for a forward. The former blindside flank also played 55 caps for Australia before representing Newcastle and Leinster in the UK.
Finegan says he's keen to step up as an assistant coach.
"It was fantastic coming back to the Brumbies at the beginning of the year and I'm really excited about taking on a more permanent role within the senior side," he said.
"Having worked with the guys this year, I can tell you there's a great squad there at the moment and the others we've recruited in the meantime will help make this into one of the dominant packs in the competition."
Young, a former Brumbies and Wallabies prop, returns to Canberra after a Super Rugby career that spanned from 1998 until 2006 when his career ended abruptly due to injury. His 46 Test caps saw him become the second most capped Wallaby prop in a career that also netted 100 Super Rugby caps for the Brumbies.
Young, who helped coach the Western Sydney Rams to semifinal berth in the Australian Rugby Championship in 2007, says he's excited about returning to the Brumbies.
"I'm very pleased to be coming back to Canberra and the Brumbies," he said.
"I've got a lot of happy memories of this place, I really enjoyed playing here, and it's great to have the opportunity to work with players and put something back into the organisation.
"From a scrumming perspective, I'm really pleased with the squad we're working with for 2009. There are a lot of experienced forwards and some exciting up-and-comers and I think it's a really exciting time to be involved with the Brumbies."
Friend says he's pleased with the balance his coaching staff represents.
"I'm very pleased to have such an outstanding coaching staff in our corner for the 2009 season," he said.
"It's a tribute to the organisation that guys like Owen, Bill and Julian are so keen to maintain an involvement within the club, as well as attracting other world-class coaches like Tony.
"Owen and Bill have played at the highest level for a number of years and are keen to re-invest their experience back into the squad through their coaching. Similarly, Julian has played at the highest level in recent times and I believe his experience will be invaluable.
"Tony provides us with a chance to think outside the square courtesy of his rugby league background. I've known Tony for a while through our Harlequins connection and know that he is a very experienced and professional operator who we're very pleased to bring back to Australia as part of the Brumbies.
"We have a great mix within our coaching ranks and everyone is very excited about the year ahead. We're all looking forward to getting in there and beginning our preparations for the 2009 season."
Friend will return to Canberra in July.
