Fri 21 Jan 2011
FORMER RUGBY World Cup-winning coach Bob Dwyer has been appointed coach of the revived Sydney rugby team.
Dwyer, who guided the Wallabies to success at rugby’s premier tournament in 1991, will take charge of the team when it plays Melbourne on March 11.
“Bob is renowned for identifying new rugby talent and developing that talent to international standards,” said Sydney Rugby Union chairman Chris Birch.
“He is going to be an enormous asset as we rebuild the Sydney team which hasn’t played any rep games for more than a decade.”
Aside from coaching the Wallabies, Dwyer has also mentored teams in France and England and also took charge of the Waratahs in 2001, leading them to their first Super 12 semifinal the following year.
The former Randwick loose forward is excited about the next challenge in his long coaching career.
“It’s a great honour to help rebuild the Sydney representative side,” he said.
“There are some outstanding players among the 12 Sydney club sides. We will be looking to play positive, attacking, ball-in-hand rugby.
“And I expect the game against Melbourne, which will include some players from their new Rebels Super Rugby side, to have the traditional competitive edge to any sporting event between Sydney and Melbourne.”
Dwyer has recently been conducting coaching camps and clinics in Italy and the UK.
Phil Blake (Manly), Mark Giacheri (Randwick) and Matt Briggs (Penrith) have also been appointed as the team’s selectors.