Gibbes to coach Leinster pack

RUGBY NEWS:LEINSTER have announced the appointment of the former All Black Jono Gibbes as forwards coach on a two-year deal. The former Waikato, Chiefs and New Zealand Maori captain will link up with the province at the end of the month to fill the role vacated by Mike Brewer.

The Te Awamutu-born Gibbes made his All Blacks debut in June 2004 against England in Dunedin and went on to win eight caps. He captained the Maori to victory over the British and Irish Lions in 2005 and led them to a Churchill Cup triumph in 2006, the same year in which he helped Waikato to the NPC title.

A teak-tough backrow, Gibbes made 68 appearances for the Super 14 franchise the Chiefs and captained them for six successive seasons before injury forced him to quit recently aged 31.

He has completed the level-two NZRU coaching course but insists working under coaches like John Mitchell, Warren Gatland and Steve Hansen has provided the best education.

Gibbes admitted: "I have always wanted to coach in a professional set-up and even though I suffered injuries over the last few years, I have gained a lot of experience working with the New Zealand representative teams, Waikato and Chiefs sides over my professional playing career.

"Leinster are an exciting team, and having watched their progress in both the Magners League and Heineken Cup over the last few years under Michael Cheika, I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with what is undoubtedly a hugely talented group of players.

"Michael has a strong reputation in the Southern Hemisphere and I have a lot of respect for his approach to the game, coupled with his professionalism.

"With Alan Gaffney rejoining the club alongside Kurt McQuilkin I am also looking forward to working alongside the existing coaching team."

Leinster head coach Cheika enthused: "I am delighted to welcome Jono to Leinster and I am sure that he will play a significant role in the coaching set-up that we have established. He is a hugely ambitious and knowledgeable student of the game with outstanding leadership skills and he will complement the existing coaching structure in the club very well.

"Having recently concluded an illustrious playing career, his experience of playing in, coupled with his knowledge of studying, the ELV rules will be of enormous benefit to the squad."

Connacht have announced some management additions of their own with the appointment of the skills-and-fitness coach Tony O'Brien and two physiotherapists, David Hanley and Keith Fox.

O'Brien joins Hull Kingston Rovers, having previously coached Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves. Hanley and Fox have worked with several teams.

Hanley has worked with the Roscommon senior footballers as well as the Galway minor hurlers. He comes from a Gaelic football background, having won an All-Ireland medal with the Galway Under-21s in 2002 and four senior county championships, three in Galway with Corofin and one with UCD.

Fox, a graduate of Liverpool University in 1999, worked for Coventry City FC for three seasons. He is pursuing a Masters degree at Manchester University and is in his third season working with AIL side Buccaneers and his second with the Leitrim senior football team.