Why RA bosses believe losing McKellar will ultimately benefit Australian game

Rugby Australia boss Andy Marinos believes the loss of Wallabies forwards coach Dan McKellar seven months before the Rugby World Cup will eventually benefit Australian rugby and was not concerned by Eddie Jones being the sole member of the Wallabies’ coaching staff.

McKellar joined Laurie Fisher and scrum coach Petrus du Plessis as the last members of Dave Rennie’s Wallabies coaching staff to walk through the exit door this week, with McKellar appointed head coach at Leicester in the English Premiership.

Jones was keen for the ex-Brumbies coach to be his right-hand man for 2023, at least, but after being positioned as Rennie’s heir apparent, the appointment of a new Wallabies coach through to 2027 led McKellar to reconsider his future.

Keen to be on deck at Leicester in July, McKellar resigned and ruled himself out of Wallabies duties for this year’s Rugby World Cup.

Marinos said it was disappointing but understandable McKellar had sought a head coach role. He also indicated RA was not expecting the decision, and there had been no discussions about keeping McKellar in Australia as the coach of a Super Rugby franchise.

“It is obviously disappointing but at the same time it is an opportunity for Dan,” Marinos said.

Dan McKellar, pictured with Taniela Tupou, is taking the Leicester Tigers job.Credit: Getty

“He has aspirations to be a head coach. We found out literally the night before his decision to go down that route. Dan was brought into the Wallabies under Dave [Rennie] and we made it clear he was part of our development pathway with the potential to be a future Wallaby coach.

“He has just seen an opportunity now to get more head coach experience and I am pretty sure we will see him back on our shores in the not too distant future.”

The loss of McKellar was a foreseeable consequence of sacking Rennie and appointing Jones for five years. RA’s focus appears now to be making sure it doesn’t burn bridges with the departing 46-year-old. The organisation did not stand in the way of his request for an early release, and did not pursue a break fee from Leicester.

Eddie Jones is the sole member of the Australian coaching staff.Credit: Cole Bennetts

“Let’s call a spade a spade, Eddie has signed a long-term contract and Dan had aspirations to take over the head coaching role,” Marinos said.

“There is a timeline to that. I think it would have been beneficial ... to work alongside Eddie but at the same time, like players, it is a very dynamic environment. An opportunity to go and coach at Leicester presents itself, to be the head coach. We can only be the beneficiaries of that.

“The thing now is to make sure we stay connected to him when he is overseas and keep working with him, and hopefully we see him back in Australia at the right time.”

Apart from a consultancy role for Scott Wisemantel, Jones has not locked in any assistant coaches yet. The Wallabies’ first camp looms in April, and the Rugby Championship starts in July.

Marinos said he was not worried.

“I am not – we were all at Eddie’s opening press conference where he was clear he has ideas of his management team, and yes Dan was one of those coaches he wanted, but he also wants to have that first introduction with his players and understand what are the requirements and the needs in that group, and then further refine what his coaching structure is,” he said.

“There are a lot of people we have been speaking to and it’s just about bringing that to a head at the right time.

“I am confident we will get the right people at the right time.”

Marinos confirmed the Herald’s report about Wisemantel taking a role as a consultant to Jones, who he worked with in Japan and England. Wisemantel stepped down from Rennie’s staff over Christmas for family reasons.

“Scotty’s role is just going to be one to give some input, and for Eddie to bounce ideas off,” Marinos said.

“Scotty has a huge passion and thirst for the game. He is going to be watching a lot of Super Rugby. Eddie will use him as a sounding board about where certain players are.

“There may be opportunities during their camps and preparation periods that Scotty comes in ... there is nothing permanent set up.”

Watch all the action from the Super Rugby Pacific with every match streaming ad-free, live and on demand on Stan Sport kicking off Friday 17 February.

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