CONNACHT HAVE TODAY confirmed that Australian Andy Friend will take over as head coach on a three-year deal ahead of the 2018/19 season.
The 49-year-old will replace Kieran Keane after the Kiwi’s difficult single season in Galway.
Friend worked as head coach of Harlequins, under director of rugby Dean Richards, from 2005 to 2008 before returning to Australia to replace Laurie Fisher as head coach of the Brumbies.
His most recent role was as head coach of the Australia men’s Sevens team.
“Andy has a wealth of experience at international and club level,” says Connacht CEO Willie Ruane, “and shares our ambition for Connacht Rugby over the coming seasons.”
Ruane adds that Friend will arrive in Galway late next month to oversee the province’s pre-season training, a bonus provinces are not always able to avail of when appointing southern hemisphere coaches.
In the statement, Friend mentioned his eagerness to engage with the ‘wider community’ of Connacht rugby, something his predecessor was reportedly lacking in.
“Connacht is a proud province with huge potential to build on the success of recent seasons. I look forward to meeting the players, staff, supporters and wider community when I arrive in the Sportsground ahead of the new season,” said Friend.
IRFU performance director David Nucifora, a fellow former Brumbies coach, says Friend “has experience in driving and developing organisation structures and has spent time working at the top end of the international game.”
Great news. He’s the best young centre half in the league.
@Maureen: hahahahahahahaha
@Stephen Walsh: what 20 year old centre back is better so?
@Conor O’Neill: Shhh FGS don’t you know Lindeloff and Dalot are the best in the world. Shhh now.
I know contracts aren’t really worth the paper they are written on but Liverpool’s business over the last 12 month’s of tieing their players down to longer deals with I imagine a good pay rise each time should definitely pay off over the next few years.