In a bold move shaking up their coaching ranks, Rugby Australia has snagged former All Black Tom Donnelly to steer the Wallabies’ forwards into the upcoming Rugby Championship. Donnelly steps in to fill the void left by Geoff Parling, who departs for coaching duties in the UK with Leicester Tigers after the British & Irish Lions tour.
Donnelly is no stranger to the rugby elite, having donned the All Blacks jersey in 15 tests between 2009 and 2010, and boasting nearly a century of caps in Super Rugby across his tenure with teams like the Highlanders, Crusaders, and Blues. His transition from player to coach has been seamless, marked by a significant stint in Otago, both as a player and later as a coach, culminating in a head coach role by 2020. More recently, Donnelly has been instrumental in leading New Zealand’s U20 to an Oceania championship in 2022.
With a rich tapestry of experience both on home soil and internationally, Donnelly’s expertise will be pivotal for the Wallabies as they look to fortify their lineout and set piece strategies. Peter Horne, Rugby Australia’s director of high performance, lauded the acquisition, noting, “Tom has spent the best part of the last 25 years involved in professional Rugby and his expertise around the lineout and set piece will be highly valuable for the Wallabies.”
“I’m honoured to have an opportunity to help contribute to the Wallabies and to work alongside Joe and the wider coaching staff and management,”
expressed Donnelly, clearly enthusiastic about his new role. He further emphasized the potential of the team, stating,
“Watching from afar, the journey the team is on and the improvement they are making is exciting. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team.”
Donnelly’s tenure is timed with the departure of current head coach Joe Schmidt, who will pass the baton to Les Kiss after this season’s championship bouts. This transition marks a new chapter for the Wallabies, potentially heralding a resurgence in their international rugby performance with Donnelly at the helm of the forwards.
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In a bold move shaking up their coaching ranks, Rugby Australia has snagged former All Black Tom Donnelly to steer the Wallabies’ forwards into the upcoming Rugby Championship. Donnelly steps in to fill the void left by Geoff Parling, who departs for coaching duties in the UK with Leicester Tigers after the British & Irish Lions tour.
Donnelly is no stranger to the rugby elite, having donned the All Blacks jersey in 15 tests between 2009 and 2010, and boasting nearly a century of caps in Super Rugby across his tenure with teams like the Highlanders, Crusaders, and Blues. His transition from player to coach has been seamless, marked by a significant stint in Otago, both as a player and later as a coach, culminating in a head coach role by 2020. More recently, Donnelly has been instrumental in leading New Zealand’s U20 to an Oceania championship in 2022.
With a rich tapestry of experience both on home soil and internationally, Donnelly’s expertise will be pivotal for the Wallabies as they look to fortify their lineout and set piece strategies. Peter Horne, Rugby Australia’s director of high performance, lauded the acquisition, noting, “Tom has spent the best part of the last 25 years involved in professional Rugby and his expertise around the lineout and set piece will be highly valuable for the Wallabies.”
“I’m honoured to have an opportunity to help contribute to the Wallabies and to work alongside Joe and the wider coaching staff and management,”
expressed Donnelly, clearly enthusiastic about his new role. He further emphasized the potential of the team, stating,
“Watching from afar, the journey the team is on and the improvement they are making is exciting. I’m looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team.”
Donnelly’s tenure is timed with the departure of current head coach Joe Schmidt, who will pass the baton to Les Kiss after this season’s championship bouts. This transition marks a new chapter for the Wallabies, potentially heralding a resurgence in their international rugby performance with Donnelly at the helm of the forwards.