IRFU fill new position

The IRFU have confirmed the appointment of Steve Anderson as their first high-performance manager. The role has been created to oversee the development and implementation of a high-performance rugby pathway to cater for the progression of players through to the professional game.

This will encompass working with the National Age Grade representative sides and each of the Provincial Academy structures to ensure that a future pool of players will be provided for selection within the Irish provincial sides.

Anderson joins the IRFU with a wealth of coaching experience at the highest level in both rugby league and union. He has held various positions in the Australian National Rugby League, including assistant coach with the Melbourne Storm side.

He also held the position of assistant coach to the Australian Rugby League World Cup-winning side in 2000.

The Australian was a technical advisor to both the South African Rugby Union and Sport England before joining the Scottish Rugby Union in 2002 as its high-performance manager.

In fulfilling that remit he attended the 2003 World Cup as part of Scotland's support staff and recently combined his role of high-performance manager with that of national defensive coach. He is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Sport Management.

Anderson will take up his new position with the IRFU in August, at the end of his employment with the Scottish Rugby Union.

Meanwhile, Connacht prop Peter Bracken has signed for Wasps and not, as previously announced, for Harlequins.

A story was released back in April, substantiated with quotes from the player himself, that he would be leaving Connacht to join Harlequins. The 27-year-old, though, has opted to link up with London Wasps, becoming the third Irish player, after Jeremy Staunton and Eoin Reddan, to do so this summer.

Wasps forwards coach Craig Dowd, the former All Black tighthead prop, confirmed Bracken's arrival and expressed delight at his capture, citing the fact the club had been tracking him for the past 12 months.