Bayside rugby union legend Paul Davey announced as Iona College’s new coach

After leading a rival school for the past five years, a legendary coach has returned to the place he fell in love with rugby union more than 30 years ago.

A legend of rugby union on Brisbane’s bayside is returning to the place he fell in love with the sport after being named the new head coach of Iona College’s First XV team.

Paul Davey, who graduated from the school in 1988, will take the reins as Iona’s coach alongside Craig Kassulke following five years in charge of AIC rivals, Villanova College.

The move comes as part of a restructure of Iona’s rugby program where last year’s coach in Wallabies and Queensland Reds legend Toutai Kefu will stay on as a coaching consultant.

Iona College's AIC rugby union coaching staff of Toutai Kefu, Craig Kassulke and Paul Davey.

Ben Devlin will continue in a managerial role for the team while former coach James Cassidy will join developmental youth coaching at the college, which finished sixth in 2021.

Davey is not only an Iona Old Boy but he is also a key figure for rugby union in the bayside area having played more than 150 first grade games for the Wynnum Bugs, coaching the team for 11 seasons across 20 years, which included several premierships, and also being the club’s current director of coaching.

“I had just finished five years of coaching at Villanova College and was looking for a change and Iona advertised their coaching role, which presented the ideal opportunity,” Davey said.

“I am thrilled that Crag Kassulke is joining me, we jointly applied, because he’s a highly experienced coach from Souths, who understands attacking rugby and backline play.

“Craig and I work very well together, we have strong complimentary skills and a coaching chemistry.”

Paul Davey during his time as head coach of the Wynnum Bugs.

More than 30 years after wearing the black and white Iona jersey as a player, Davey said it was an amazing feeling to be back at the school.

“As an Iona Old Boy, having graduated in 1988, my first experiences of rugby were on the Iona playing fields in the mid-1980s, when the Iona aligned itself with the then TAS-affiliated schools,” he said.

“I fell in love with rugby from day one and I remember quickly developing a burning desire to wear that black and white harlequin jersey, something I did as a regular starting player in my senior year.

“Some 30 years on and I truly have a similar burning desire to return to Devine Oval – albeit armed with a clipboard rather than rugby boots.”

Davey believed the school had the perfect coaching staff in place to achieve success and said his vision for the program was simple.

“I want to maximise the potential of all of the budding rugby players in the school, especially those who have an emerging talent for playing the sport and are becoming eligible for the First XV,” he said.

“I am looking forward to meeting the retuning players later in the week, just to start to share ideas and give them some of the responsibility for bringing on-board the new, younger squad members.”

Paul Davey and former Wynnum Bugs captain Matt Myers. Picture: Renae Droop

Iona’s head of sport, Keith Harron, said the restructure of the coaching staff was done with a view to professionally coach the First XV team as well as create links with community clubs, such as the Wynnum Bugs.

“It (the coaching staff) is a strong team that will create a formidable pathway of rugby at Iona College,” he said.

“Paul Davey’s previous involvement with community rugby, especially at Wynnum Bugs, will continue the traditional link that has been forged over many years.

“Numerous Iona players initially learn their rugby at the Bugs so the pathway will be improved

“Paul Davey brings experience at the First XV coaching level, plus his coaching team of Toutai Kefu and Craig Kassulke will bring new approaches pertinent to tactical development. “They also understand the need for a balanced program that supports the wellbeing of all involved.”