The Australian Rugby Union have appointed former Wallabies player Rod Kafer to a new role where he will lead the facilitation of Australia’s elite coach development program.
The role, part of Australia’s high-performance department, will allow Kafer to balance the new job along with his existing TV commentary commitments.
It’s expected Kafer will work with Australia’s coaching staff for the Wallabies, Wallaroos, Sevens and at Super Rugby level. He will also coordinate the national coaching advisory panel, which was announced in May.
Kafer had a 12-year playing career, spending five of them with the Brumbies where he made 37 appearances while scoring 50 points. He was a part of the inaugural Brumbies team in 1996 before moving to England in 2001 where he spent two years with the Leicester Tigers to finish his career.
The playmaker made his Wallabies debut in 1999, earning 12 caps before he made the move north.
Kafer said he was looking forward to the challenge of his new role at the ARU.
“As most know, we currently have many important priorities we need to address to improve the game. Our challenge is to ignore all of them and only focus on the critical few priorities that will lead to long-term success and improve our prospects of winning consistently, at every level,” said Kafer.
“Coaching is a critical priority that we must improve, at all levels. We must ensure that best practice at the elite end of the game flows to all coaches and players from the top to the bottom. That is a sure path to improvement and a critical investment in the game’s future.
“Every player and coach has a part to play in developing future Wallabies, Wallaroos and Olympians, and the more resources we provide to improve those players the better our future will be. We have already started on it and I can’t wait to see where we get to.”
The ARU’s general manager of high performance, Ben Whittaker, sung the praises for Kafer in his new role.
“Rod is a fantastic acquisition into Australian Rugby and has shown a genuine willingness to be involved in shaping the way forward to achieve on-field success across our programs,” said Whittaker.
“Rod’s rugby intelligence is well known and he is one of the most respected voices in the game. He will be able to work with our elite coaches to identify opportunities for important learning and development.
“This is an area of High Performance that has been collectively prioritised and we have been able to design a model for it to be delivered via a centralised system.”
Simon
Guest
Does that involve Perth still ? Remember us
IronAwe
Guest
Well he did have the courage to recognise it wasn't working and made the decision to step down himself. That's worth quite a lot compared to some of the 'experts' we've had.
Bakkies
Guest
You need a presence as a coach that the kids will stop and listen too. If you don't have that presence your sessions will be wasted disciplining them and putting them in corners on time outs.
ukkiwi
Roar Rookie
ha ha - troupe
DaniE
Roar Guru
If he can get organisation, strategy and more importantly, buy-in from coaches down through the community, then I"ll count that as a success.
DaniE
Roar Guru
The Brad Frew drills are good, but even more impressive is seeing how focused those boys were! Not like my mad crew.
piru
Roar Rookie
The Foundation course is excellent, I don't know if it's specifically a WA thing, but I went through it when I first got my ref's qualification. An old workmate came along (an ex AFL level umpire) as he was interested in the game but didn't know much about it, and came out with a much stronger understanding of what was going on. He never went on to ref or coach but said his enjoyment of watching the game was far better having that knowledge.
John R
Roar Guru
He’s CEO of his own sports academy (which counted, at least at one point, Mick Byrne as an employee) http://www.sportstekacademies.com.au/about-us/ Reckon he's got a fair better idea on what's required as an executive/program administrator than your standard ex player.
Bakkies
Guest
Who Henry and Wayne Smith? The longer content you have to pay for. They put up tackling and passing sessions run by Wayne Smith up on You Tube that anyone can view for free. You learn more from that then any coaching course that covers that. Brad Frew from the Crusaders has good minis passing drills online.
Bakkies
Guest
What age group range does that cert cover? Ireland and England with the changes to mini Rugby are bringing in kicking later. Ireland it is in under 11 from their own goal line.
HiKa
Roar Rookie
I have a vague memory of Kafer being asked on camera about coaching and he recognized that while he thought he was up to it in terms of training and guiding a rugby team, he wasn't up for the non-rugby elements of a modern pro coach's job, including the "man management" stuff that is necessary around who gets picked and who gets left out. Hard to see this not being beneficial, but it is only one step - it won't produce miracles.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Thanks for that. I am glad that you are into it, and obviously dedicated to coaching the fundamentals.
armchair sportsfan
Guest
Yeah...its just amusing to me how many commentators on here make reference to his insightful tactical comments on TV, and use that as clear justification that this is a great hire...if onfield tactics and gameplans are what he's good at, then he should go an become tactics/strategy advisor to one of the teams.... But being a head coach at a modern franchise surely is about so much more than going in with a smart game plan on gameday (admittedly...it would help a lot to be sure).
bigbaz
Roar Guru
As far as I understand Kafer is going to be more a trainer than a coach, so his coaching record is probably irrelevant. He comes across as a good trainer on the telly.
AndyS
Guest
Well, let's just hope that if everyone is going to be taught to play exactly the same way, it is correct way. Can't help but wonder though if that means the Grey way to defend at the moment, the Graham way for skills not so long ago, the Eddie Jones approach to front row play before that...?
Sportscrazy
Guest
Just another fat cat in the same boat as Larkam and Grey. Has NOT done an apprenticeship and is given the nod because he talks the talk. Big difference in talking and leading.
Paulo
Roar Rookie
Glad your thrilled. As an Aussie I imagine its been a tough season for you without much to be thrilled about.
DaveR
Guest
Spot on Jock. Ben Whittaker should not survive at all. Better to get Kafer in the tent quickly or he will....be my boss!
CJ
Guest
I think he is a great choice but the challenge is so enormous on so many levels. He is a seriously good communicator and analyst. Looking at the Tahs and the Reds (and to some extent the Brumbies) performances this year, though, Australian Rugby is in desperate shape. So it will be a veritable labour of Hercules...My guess is some areas will improve like kicking and some basic Rugby IQ - but - really, good luck to him.
Sylvester
Guest
Kafer seems a switched on guy. However, I don't like the idea of him commentating while being an ARU employee - how honest will his opinions be now?