- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
NSW Rugby has announced two key additions to their high-performance staff, with former Wallaby Andrew Blades named as General Manager of Rugby and Pauli Taumoepeau as the Waratahs forwards coach.
The two appointments finalise the Waratah’s coaching list after the selection of new coach Darren Coleman, for this year’s worst performed Super Rugbyb team.
NSW Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn said in a statement that the pair named on Tuesday had a background in the Shute Shield, and this was a way of reconnecting the Waratahs to grassroots rugby and building a high calibre coaching roster.
NSW Rugby has announced two key additions to their High-Performance staff, appointing Andrew Blades as General Manager of Rugby and Pauli Taumoepeau as the Waratahs Forwards Coach. More to come. ???????? #fortheloveofrugby pic.twitter.com/WRvOgGc8C6
— NSW Waratahs (@NSWWaratahs) August 16, 2021
“Andrew and Pauli are both fantastic additions to NSW Rugby and bring a unique mix of experience and knowledge to our organisation from a playing and management perspective,” Doorn said in the statement.
“Both have a deep and specialised understanding of rugby and Andrew’s international experience and Pauli’s success in coaching and player development adds depth to the Waratah’s program. Both are a product of the Shute Shield and it again shows that the competition produces quality coaches.”
Blades played 49 times for the Waratahs and 32 Tests for the Wallabies in a career spanning from 1992 to 1999, finishing up as Rugby World Cup winner in the victory over France.
After retiring, Blades coached Newcastle Falcons in England and in Sydney’s Shute Shield competition.
He was Wallaby forwards coach in 2004 and again from 2012 to 2015 and comes to the Waratahs from his current role as Head of Rugby at St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill.
“I’m very privileged to get the opportunity to return to NSW Rugby and to play a role in helping the organisation implement performance strategies with the aim of long-term success for the Waratahs and its high-performance programs,” Blades said in the statement.
“NSW Rugby union holds a special place in my heart, so this is an ideal opportunity to come full circle and back home to the organisation.
“My experience in the NSW Rugby landscape will help me develop strategies to improve our player pathways and I’m looking forward to working with the coaching staff and the high-performance team to bring success to the Waratahs and the NSW Rugby Union.”
Taumoepeau, the current Director of Rugby and 1st Grade Head Coach at Eastern Suburbs, will join the Waratah coaching staff as the forward’s coach.
Taumoepeau began coaching at Eastern Suburbs in 2014 after injury ended his playing days as a loose forward for Sydney University and Eastern Suburbs.
“I’m really excited to join the Waratahs and be a part of Darren Coleman’s coaching team and can’t wait to get stuck in and have a positive influence on the group,” Taumoepeau said.
“The Waratahs were the first team I supported growing up and all my heroes wore the famous Sky-Blue, so this role has a real emotional connection for me. It’s an incredibly proud moment for myself and my family.
“There is a lot of talent in the squad, and I can’t wait to get to work alongside DC, Chris Whitaker and Jason Gilmore to help bring some confidence back to the side through a lot of hard work.”
Waratahs Head Coach Darren Coleman said in the statement: “Pauli was a highly talented young player whose career was cut short, and he turned his hand to coaching at a young age.
“He’s shown consistency in developing the teams and players he’s coached and had great success with the programs he ran in both Easts Colts and 1st Grade, never missing the finals.
“He’s a student of the game and improved his technical knowledge quickly and has great potential to grow with the playing group.
“I have worked alongside him during my time at Easts and the Country Eagles in the NRC and he understands how I like my teams to be prepared and we are strongly aligned on the culture we want to install at the Waratahs.”
Meanhile, the NZ Herald reports that former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga has quit coaching to focus on his new family business selling supplements and wellness products.
Umaga last year re-signed with the Blues as defence coach, but has since had a change of heart.
He was head coach of the Blues from 2016 before transitioning to his defence brief under Leon MacDonald in 2018.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.