Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Just days after appointing Pate Tuilevuka as new Director of Rugby, the Seattle Seawolves have made sweeping changes to their coaching staff for the remainder of the 2021 Major League Rugby season. Kees Lensing has been reassigned as Forwards Coach with Tuilevuka named Interim Head Coach. A pair of former Ireland hookers also arrive in Allen Clarke and Rory Best.
Lensing took over as Head Coach ahead of the 2020 season after serving as Forwards Coach for Rugby United New York in 2019. The two-time MLR champions won just 2 from 9 matches under the former Namibia international in that time, their most recent defeat by a record margin against the Toronto Arrows this past weekend.
Tuilevuka is originally from Fiji but is a long-time resident of the USA and won 10 caps for the Eagles as a flyhalf or center between 2006 and 2010. He had most recently been Director of Rugby for Seattle RFC, who compete in the BC Premier League.
Previously announced as Head Coach of the Dallas Jackals prior to their withdrawal from the 2021 season, Clarke joins under the title of Technical Coach. The official release states that he will be “laying the groundwork for the future development of the club” though it’s not yet clear if he will continue with the side in 2022 or potentially return to Dallas should they be confirmed for next season as planned.
EDIT: Dallas have since released a statement saying that Clarke will rejoin the team ahead of 2022.
The same can be said for Best, who joins as a Skills Coach. Captain of Ireland at Rugby World Cup 2019, the Ulsterman won well over a hundred caps for his country and was part of two British & Irish Lions tours. Since retiring following the World Cup he has been mentoring young front rowers at Ulster.
