North Harbour Rays to name new head coach this week

THE North Harbour Rays will reveal announce their new head coach this week following the loss of Marlins coach Phil Blake.

Manly Marlins rugby coach Phil Blake ahead of Saturday's first game. He says there are no excuses this year.

THE North Harbour Rays will reveal announce their new coaching structure for the National Rugby Championship season this week following the loss of Marlins coach Phil Blake.

Gordon’s Geoff Townsend is favourite to take the job.

Blake has stepped down from the position as Rays’ head coach after securing a position with the Leicester Tigers in the English first division.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/northern-beaches/our-north-harbour-rays-rugby-team-are-signed-and-sealed/story-fngr8iii-1226936102205

The Rays are a franchise made up of the Manly, Warringah, Northern Suburbs and Gordon clubs that will play in the new national competition.

Rugby presidents from Manly, Warringah, Norths and Gordon officially sign up for North Harbour Rays rugby franchise with prospective players.

“In many ways this is what the North Harbour Rays and the NRC is all about — giving players and coaches the opportunity to showcase their skills,” said Rays chairman Gary Flowers said.

“We’d have loved to have had Phil on board for the ride but he’s always wanted to test his skills further up and that’s exactly what Leicester have presented him and we wish him well.

“The NRC and the Rays will always be a springboard to bigger and better opportunities for our players and coaches and that’s exactly what has happened in this case.”

But Blake will continue to play a role with the Rays preparation for the inaugural NRC that is due to kick-off on August 2

Warringah’s Haig Sare, Norths Scott Fava and Geoff Townsend from Gordon has previously been named as assistant coaches.