Brumbies sack Fisher for Friend
Tue, 15 Apr 2008 08:59
Sacked: Brumbies coach Laurie Fisher
Andy Friend has been appointed Head Coach of the Brumbies for the next three seasons (2009-2011), replacing incumbent Laurie Fisher.
The former Brumbies fullback and technical adviser to the Wallabies is currently coach of the English Premiership club, Harlequins.
Friend says he's delighted to be returning home to Canberra.
"The Brumbies are one of the great teams of world rugby and to be given the opportunity to be head coach is a great honour," said Friend.
"It's a tremendous responsibility.
"My commitment to our many fans in Australia and around the world is to build on the strong foundations laid by Laurie Fisher and to ensure the Brumbies continue to play attacking, successful rugby," he added.
Friend says he's impressed with the current team.
"It's a young team with plenty of talent," he said.
"They've had to cope with the disruption of injury but they're still in the race for the play-offs.
"I'm looking forward to working with the team for the next three seasons.
"There's a lot to look forward to," added Friend.
Friend, prior to joining the London-based Harlequins, guided Japanese club Suntory to two premierships (2001, 2002) and held an advisory role with the Wallabies during the 2002 Tri-Nations Series and 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He was also Assistant Coach for the Australian side that was runner-up to South Africa in the 2005 IRB Under-21 World Championships.
The former Canberra Grammar student and prolific points-scorer represented Canberra club Royals and the ACT before a knee injury ended his career.
Friend's appointment by the Brumbies Rugby board follows the unanimous recommendation of a selection panel made up of Brumbies Rugby CEO Andrew Fagan, Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock, former Brumbies players and former heads of the Australian Rugby Union's High Performance Unit, Brett Robinson and Pat Howard.
Brumbies' foundation coach Rod Macqueen also provided input to the process.
Fagan says Friend is a good fit for the Brumbies.
"Andy [Friend] is a quality coach and a quality person," he said.
"He has an impressive record - both locally and overseas - and he has runs on the board across his coaching career.
"As a coach he’s shown a commitment to playing attacking rugby which has been a hallmark of the Brumbies in the side’s 13 years of Super Rugby.
"We've been happy with how the process has run.
"It was thorough and transparent and attracted a high standard of applicants from Australia and abroad.
"We're appreciative of the contribution that Laurie Fisher and his coaching staff have made towards the development of the Brumbies over the past four years.
"On behalf of the Brumbies Board and all of our supporters I'd like to thank Laurie [Fisher], Matt O'Connor and Nick Scrivener for their efforts.
"They have guided the squad through a major transition ensuring that the team was always competitive and always pushing for a place in the finals," added Fagan.
