Australia A coaching lineup and match schedule finalised

[Burgs]

Australia A coaching lineup and match schedule finalised

May 04, 2007 - 9:09am
Story by: ARU

The Australian Rugby Union today announced Laurie Fisher as Head Coach of Australia A for their IRB Pacific Nations Cup campaign, with Steve Tuynman (NSW), Matt O’Connor (ACT) and Les Kiss (NSW) the Assistant Coaches.

Australia A will open their Pacific Nations Cup quest against Tonga at Aussie Stadium on Friday, 25 May. The match is classed as an “away” game, however Tonga elected to play the match in Sydney.

Today’s announcement finalises the Australia A coaching lineup and match schedule for the inaugural IRB Pacific Nations Cup, which sees Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Japan, the Junior All Blacks and Australia A play a round-robin tournament over five weeks during May and June.

Following their opener at Aussie Stadium, the team will head to Coffs Harbour for Round Two against Samoa and then on to Townsville for Round Three against Japan.

The Coffs Harbour round is set to be an international rugby double-header, with the city’s first-ever rugby Test match, Tonga v Japan, the curtain-raiser to the Australia A v Samoa game.

Traditionally the stepping-stone to Wallaby selection, the Australia A program gives players new to the international arena the opportunity to gain experience at the highest level.

The program also allows players to continue playing international rugby while staking their claim for a regular Test spot. Last year’s Australia A teams included Qantas Wallabies Cameron Shepherd, Rodney Blake, Josh Valentine and Adam Ashley-Cooper.

Qantas Wallabies Head Coach John Connolly said the Australia A program was a crucial part of the Wallabies build up to the Rugby World Cup in France later this year.

“We’ll be naming a squad of 30 players for the World Cup at the end of the Test season and Pacific Nations Cup and many of these spots will still be up for grabs,” Connolly said.

“The players chosen for Australia A will need to perform at their best and make an impression on the national selectors.”

For Brumbies Head Coach Laurie Fisher, 2007 is his second stint at the helm of Australia A and he says he is looking forward to guiding the squad through the inaugural IRB Pacific Nations Cup.

“The Pacific Nations Cup gives Australia the opportunity to play a string of competitive, international matches against quality opposition and it’s very pleasing that we will be playing to home crowds for three of our games,” Fisher said.

“The tournament will give those players just outside the Wallaby squad the chance to show the selectors why they should make the trip to France and I think we can expect first class performances from this.

“Rugby has a strong following in Sydney, Coffs Harbour and Townsville and I’m sure the people in these areas will again get behind one of their national teams.”

The Australia A squad will be announced on Sunday, 20 May.

Tickets for all three Australia A matches are on sale now.

2007 AUSTRALIA A COACHES & MANAGEMENT

Laurie Fisher, Head Coach

Steve Tuynman, Assistant Coach - Forwards

Matt O’Connor, Assistant Coach - Backs

Les Kiss, Assistant Coach - Defence

Ray McNicol, Manager

Damian Marsh, Athletic Performance Coordinator

Warren McDonald, Medical Coordinator/Doctor

Rob Naish, Physiotherapy Coordinator (Force man)

Justin Wray, Physiotherapist

Garry Quinlivan, Assistant Manager

Daniel McFarlane, Video Analyst

[AndyS]

Pity they couldn't send one of them our way, but I like the idea of getting games to places that are otherwise entirely overlooked. Anyone know whether there will be vision on the matches?

[travelling_gerry]

Nice to see one of "back room guys" get as run too

[jazza93]

the coaches are good they should build a good team.

those towns are league crazy. they will get good crowds though.