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Canada will have a Webb Ellis Cup winner in their midst for the upcoming Rugby World Cup. Head Coach Kingsley Jones has enlisted the help of Sir Graham Henry, the former All Blacks supremo, as an advisor for the upcoming tournament that kicks off next month. The 73-year-old recently spent a week with the team in Fiji and will stick with the outfit through their time in Japan.
Also confirmed is the addition of Saracens scrumhalf Richard Wigglesworth through the end of the tournament. He replaces Henry Paul as defense coach, with Paul staying behind to continue his work as interim coach of the Senior Men’s Sevens program. Wigglesworth arrived ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup and joins a supporting cast that also features Cardiff’s Gruff Rees on attack, and Leicester’s Boris Stankovich on the set piece.
Meanwhile Rugby Canada have confirmed the formal appointments of Jones and John Tait as Directors of Men’s and Women’s High Performance, respectively. Tait is currently Head Coach of the Senior Women’s Sevens program and will have an expanded role to oversee all women’s national programs.
The same duties will fall on Jones, though it’s not yet clear how long he will fill the role of Head Coach of the Senior Men’s side. It’s understood that part of his mandate will be to assist in the development of Canadian coaches to lead the team into the 2023 World Cup.
Jones released a statement in an official release:
“It’s exciting to see Rugby Canada taking the necessary steps to set Canada in the right direction, and I’m humbled and honoured to be a part of it. There’s huge potential ahead of us with the focus on a developing pathway through the Pacific Pride Academy, the growth of Major League Rugby, the men’s and women’s Olympic qualification, and changes to the player release window.
“These all stand to be a huge boost for Canadian rugby, and will position us well for the 2023 Rugby World Cup and beyond. I’m delighted to be a part of the future of Rugby Canada and hope to leave a lasting legacy, and build up Canadian coaches and players to lead our national teams in the years ahead.”
As did Tait:
“Women’s rugby continues to be one of the fastest growing sports in the world, and the stage is set for Canada to continue to thrive among the top nations. I am excited to be taking on this expanded role that will create the conditions for a more strategic approach to talent identification and performance development.
“Aligning our programs and further developing our talent pool will create even more opportunity for female players in this country, and I am excited to be a part of ensuring that we create the strongest programs possible for the athletes of today and tomorrow.”
