The University of Canberra Brumbies, Australia’s most successful Super Rugby club, will hold three separate coaching courses this month featuring the club’s head coach, Stephen Larkham.
Larkham, one of Australia’s great no. 10s, will work with Brumbies Academy Program Manager Nick Leah to give participating coaches the opportunity to “simulate a part week in Super Rugby,” particularly the week of the Brumbies’ Semifinal match against Waikato Chiefs.
Coaches attending the courses in New Jersey (Sept. 13-14) and Minnesota (Sept. 27-28) will earn 10 USA Rugby Professional Development Credits, while the one-day course in Tempe, Ariz., Sept. 21 is worth five PDCs. The one-day course in Tempe will simulate game analysis, review, and remediation aspects of a Super Rugby preparation week due to the one-day time slot.
“The Brumbies’ organization has been at the forefront of coaching in world rugby for over a decade and this course coming to the U.S. is a huge opportunity for aspiring coaches,” USA Rugby National High Performance Manager (15s) Billy Millard said. “World-class professional development is hard to chase within the U.S. and this will be an outstanding program.”
Millard will also attend the course in New Jersey.
Coaches will have homework prior to the course commencement, as well, including analyzing match footage on the Brumbies and Chiefs as preparation for the simulation week.
“The Brumbies have recognized the United States as an untapped resource for rugby talent, and their plan to increase the level of coaching as a ‘first step’ is extraordinary,” USA Rugby Coach Development Manager Josh Sutcliffe said. “The benefit of having rugby greats like Stephen Larkham – and even Graham Henry with The Rugby Site in the past – guide our coaches cannot be understated.”
Coaches will gain a further understanding of contemporary skill acquisition methodology, game analysis and technical/tactical remediation and programming, and how to maximize performance of individual, unit, and team development with limited timeframes.
“I have attended coaching courses led by Nick Leah in the past and they have been outstanding,” Men’s Eagles Head Coach Mike Tolkin said. “This opportunity to tap into Nick again, plus the presence of Stephen Larkham, is as good as it gets for professional development. I encourage any rugby coach with ambition to attend this course.”
Along with the coaching courses, which cost $200 for the two-day sessions and $100 for the Tempe course, the Brumbies are holding a combine alongside the Arizona course for players interested in making the club’s Super Rugby side.
As part of the Brumbies’ overarching plan to tap into the American rugby landscape, the combine will identify players for the ASU Brumbies Academy. The Brumbies will look to eventually bring players to Australia for future competition.
More information on the University of Canberra Brumbies’ coaching courses:
