Wallabies greats Will Genia and Quade Cooper are diving headfirst into their post-playing careers, taking up coaching roles with the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. After hanging up their boots, Genia steps in as Skills Coach and Cooper takes the helm of the club’s attack, marking a new chapter in their storied rugby journeys.
Joining them in the coaching squad are Ross Filipo, former Maori All Blacks coach, now charged with the forwards, and Tai Lavea, previously with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, who will spearhead the defense strategy.
Last month, as his playing days wound down, Genia, who notched up 110 Test caps for Australia from 2008 to 2019, hinted at his reluctance to retire, sharing his thoughts on continuing his career.
"I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there,"
he confessed. He even earmarked Japan and the States as potential playing fields, drawn by the competitive level in Japan and the appealing lifestyle in the U.S.
However, it appears the scrum-half has pivoted entirely, now focusing on coaching alongside Cooper, his long-time halfback partner. The duo's new mission? Propel the Liners, who narrowly missed promotion last season, to the top tier of the Japan Rugby League One in the 2025/26 campaign.
To bolster their roster, the Liners have roped in some heavyweight talent including Springboks fly-half Manie Libbok, and Keita Fujiwara, formerly of Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi. They’re further strengthened by South African lock Ryno Pieterse, Kiran McDonald from Newcastle, and Shoma Makinouchi, a former Japan U20 forward. Additional firepower comes in the form of One Test All Blacks centre Peter Umaga-Jensen and ex-Northampton Saints midfielder Burger Odendaal.
With these strategic additions and a new coaching dream team, the Liners are shaping up to be formidable contenders in the upcoming season. Genia and Cooper, now on the sidelines, will be applying their years of international experience in a fresh arena, no doubt aiming to inject a winning mentality into their new squad.
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Wallabies greats Will Genia and Quade Cooper are diving headfirst into their post-playing careers, taking up coaching roles with the Hanazono Kintetsu Liners. After hanging up their boots, Genia steps in as Skills Coach and Cooper takes the helm of the club’s attack, marking a new chapter in their storied rugby journeys.
Joining them in the coaching squad are Ross Filipo, former Maori All Blacks coach, now charged with the forwards, and Tai Lavea, previously with Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo, who will spearhead the defense strategy.
Last month, as his playing days wound down, Genia, who notched up 110 Test caps for Australia from 2008 to 2019, hinted at his reluctance to retire, sharing his thoughts on continuing his career.
"I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there,"
he confessed. He even earmarked Japan and the States as potential playing fields, drawn by the competitive level in Japan and the appealing lifestyle in the U.S.However, it appears the scrum-half has pivoted entirely, now focusing on coaching alongside Cooper, his long-time halfback partner. The duo's new mission? Propel the Liners, who narrowly missed promotion last season, to the top tier of the Japan Rugby League One in the 2025/26 campaign.
To bolster their roster, the Liners have roped in some heavyweight talent including Springboks fly-half Manie Libbok, and Keita Fujiwara, formerly of Toyota Industries Shuttles Aichi. They’re further strengthened by South African lock Ryno Pieterse, Kiran McDonald from Newcastle, and Shoma Makinouchi, a former Japan U20 forward. Additional firepower comes in the form of One Test All Blacks centre Peter Umaga-Jensen and ex-Northampton Saints midfielder Burger Odendaal.
With these strategic additions and a new coaching dream team, the Liners are shaping up to be formidable contenders in the upcoming season. Genia and Cooper, now on the sidelines, will be applying their years of international experience in a fresh arena, no doubt aiming to inject a winning mentality into their new squad.