Coaches in Japan should be considered for key roles in Lions series
The once-in-12-years British & Irish Lions series is the perfect opportunity to give rookie Aussie coaches a taste of big time rugby.
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Not only does the British & Irish Lions series provide an opportunity for former players to wind back the clock in the two invitational teams, but it is an ideal platform for a numerous Australian coaches in Japan to get experience on the big stage.
Rugby Australia is keenly looking at available coaches to partake in the two combined teams, AUNZ and the First Nations/Pasifika sides, who will play the Lions in Adelaide and Melbourne respectively.
Speculation continues around who will replace Joe Schmidt as Wallabies coach in October following The Rugby Championship.
Queensland’s Les Kiss remains the frontrunner, but RA is certainly taking its time to make an announcement.
That has led to speculation that RA may have gone cold on Kiss, and are looking for someone with more international experienced.
Code Sports understands this is not the case, and with several key RA officials in Hong Kong this week, it is expected that an announcement on the new coach won’t come until next week at the earliest.
But it does raise questions about how many Australian coaches have international experience and could presumably become candidates for the Wallabies job beyond the 2027 World Cup.
Surprisingly, there are far more coaching overseas than most realise.
Particularly in Japan, where a host of former Wallabies are now either in head coaching roles or assistants.
Wycliff Palu, Sekope Kepu, Toutai Kefu and Nathan Grey are among them.
Kefu already has Test experience, having previously coached Tonga, and he is now at Kintetsu Liners guiding the likes of Quade Cooper, Will Genia and Akira Ioane.
Grey is a former Wallabies assistant coach who is now at Suntory Sungoliath, who have Sam Cane, Cheslin Kolbe and Sean McMahon on their roster.
Palu has assumed the head coaching role of division three Japanese club Kurita Water Gush, while Kepu is forwards coach of Shimizu Koto Blue Sharks.
Former All Blacks coach Ian Foster has already been announced as a member of the AUNZ coaching staff. Given the history of Grey, Kefu, Palu and Kepu, they would be wise additions to the coaching team.
But given their Pacific Islander heritage, Kefu, Palu and Kepu would also be valuable for the Indigenous/Pasifika team to play the Lions on July 22 at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium.
The beauty is in the timing, with the Japanese season concluding in May, making them all available for roles in either of the teams.
Of course, RA will be looking to also include local coaches, and there are only so many spots to hand out.
But it would be invaluable experience on the big stage for some of these men to learn and grow.
Wallabies legend Lote Tuqiri and Fiji star Nadolo have started coaching club teams and could be brought in for advice and inspiration.
Another coach of Pasifika heritage is former Waratahs playmaker Daniel Halangahu, who is assistant at the Auckland Blues, and developing rapidly as a quality coach.
With the Lions only coming around every 12 years, the opportunity to fast-track the evolution of Australia’s rising coaches is too good an opportunity to be missed.
Originally published as Coaches in Japan should be considered for key roles in Lions series
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