Graham casting wide net to find assistants
New Western Force head coach Richard Graham is bringing in two assistants to take charge of the forwards and defence for the 2011 Super rugby competition.
With the first pre-season training just over a month away, Graham is keen to get the two positions filled - and there is no shortage of applicants.
"There are long lists for both and I'm working hard to find the best possible people, the best people to add value to the organisation," he said.
Graham had a flood of interest from within Australia and overseas once his appointment to take over from John Mitchell was confirmed.
"It's a case that as soon as you are appointed your inbox is full from agents or people you have worked with," Graham said.
"That's natural, and makes it easier. You don't have to rack your brain to work out who is available."
In his last season in charge, Mitchell had Graham as backs coach after the early departures of assistants John Mulvihill and Tom Fearn. Academy coach Geoff Townsend was in charge of skills and Matt Tink oversaw the scrum. They are expected to remain in those roles.
While the Force have not revealed who they are considering, possible targets include:
- Former Wallaby and Queensland prop Nick Stiles, who moved to Japan in 2007 as forwards coach with Kubota Spears after coaching Queensland University.
- Head coach of the Junior Waratahs, Joe Barakat - a specialist set piece and defence coach who helped Fiji prepare for the 2007 World Cup.
- Forwards coach with the Port Elizabeth-based Eastern Province Kings, Adrian Kennedy. He worked with Graham at English club Saracens when Graham was the coaching co-ordinator and then head coach.
