Despite swirling rumors and a successful stint on tour, Byron McGuigan, Sale Sharks' standout defensive coach, remains with the club for the foreseeable future, with no formal offer from England's rugby setup on the horizon. Alex Sanderson, Sale's Director of Rugby, emphasized that while conversations have occurred, nothing concrete has materialized to transition McGuigan to the national team permanently.
McGuigan's impact at Sale has been pronounced since he began leading their defense in November last year. Under his guidance, the team's defensive metrics have significantly improved, and his popularity within the coaching ranks has surged. His temporary assignment with England's coaching crew for the tour of the Americas only bolstered his reputation, where he worked alongside Joe El-Abd and earned considerable acclaim.
Despite these advancements, Sanderson maintains a cautious stance.
"There's nothing on the table,"
he stated, implying that while McGuigan's future as an international coach looks promising, the timing must be right. Sanderson elaborated on his advice to McGuigan, stressing the importance of timing and the benefits of his current role at Sale. This sentiment was echoed during discussions with England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, particularly after McGuigan’s commendable performance on tour.
Sanderson also revealed the breadth of his discussions with Borthwick, which covered potential future roles for McGuigan and feedback mechanisms that could benefit Sale. "We've talked about Byron, what his future could look like, keeping him in the country and how well he did on tour," Sanderson disclosed, underscoring the dual focus of these discussions on both McGuigan's growth and immediate contributions to Sale.
While the allure of international coaching is undeniable, Sanderson warns that not every shiny opportunity leads to gold. His perspective is shaped by past experiences of other Sale staff who have ventured into international roles, with varying degrees of success. For now, McGuigan remains committed to Sale, with both eyes firmly set on clinching the PREM title, even as the whispers of higher accolades continue to circulate in England’s rugby circles.
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Despite swirling rumors and a successful stint on tour, Byron McGuigan, Sale Sharks' standout defensive coach, remains with the club for the foreseeable future, with no formal offer from England's rugby setup on the horizon. Alex Sanderson, Sale's Director of Rugby, emphasized that while conversations have occurred, nothing concrete has materialized to transition McGuigan to the national team permanently.
McGuigan's impact at Sale has been pronounced since he began leading their defense in November last year. Under his guidance, the team's defensive metrics have significantly improved, and his popularity within the coaching ranks has surged. His temporary assignment with England's coaching crew for the tour of the Americas only bolstered his reputation, where he worked alongside Joe El-Abd and earned considerable acclaim.
Despite these advancements, Sanderson maintains a cautious stance.
"There's nothing on the table,"
he stated, implying that while McGuigan's future as an international coach looks promising, the timing must be right. Sanderson elaborated on his advice to McGuigan, stressing the importance of timing and the benefits of his current role at Sale. This sentiment was echoed during discussions with England’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, particularly after McGuigan’s commendable performance on tour.Sanderson also revealed the breadth of his discussions with Borthwick, which covered potential future roles for McGuigan and feedback mechanisms that could benefit Sale. "We've talked about Byron, what his future could look like, keeping him in the country and how well he did on tour," Sanderson disclosed, underscoring the dual focus of these discussions on both McGuigan's growth and immediate contributions to Sale.
While the allure of international coaching is undeniable, Sanderson warns that not every shiny opportunity leads to gold. His perspective is shaped by past experiences of other Sale staff who have ventured into international roles, with varying degrees of success. For now, McGuigan remains committed to Sale, with both eyes firmly set on clinching the PREM title, even as the whispers of higher accolades continue to circulate in England’s rugby circles.