TIM WALSH APPOINTED NEXT AUSSIE MEN’S SEVENS HEAD COACH

Mar 19 • General News, Sevens Rugby • 1172 Views • Comments Off on TIM WALSH APPOINTED NEXT AUSSIE MEN’S SEVENS HEAD COACH

Rugby Australia has today confirmed Olympic Gold medal-winning Coach Tim Walsh as the next Qantas Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach.

Walsh announced in January he would vacate the Head Coach position with the Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens team following the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, having guided the team to an historic Gold medal in Rio de Janeiro and a HSBC Sevens World Series title in 2016.

In his five years at the helm of the Women’s program, Walsh molded a group of talented athletes he helped to identify and recruit from a range of sports into a world champion Rugby Sevens outfit and boasts a World Series winning percentage of 85%. In that time he took the team from fifth to number one in the world.

Walsh, who turns 39 next month, said he had been considering overseas options but his priority was always to remain in Australia if the opportunity arose.

“I had no expectation of remaining in Australia and had very seriously considered taking up an option elsewhere. But as I have always said, I am passionate about Australia, as much now as a coach as I was when I played, so naturally it was an opportunity I wanted to pursue,” said Walsh.

“I certainly don’t see this move as a promotion, but it brings a number of new challenges and I am incredibly honoured to be given the opportunity to coach the Australian Men’s team, especially having represented the team in the past as a player.”

Walsh said his role with the Australian Women’s Sevens team and his previous experience with the Men’s side has prepared him well for his new role.

“I am very proud of the world class program we delivered with the Women’s team. We worked extremely hard to create a distinct style of play and a specific culture and identity for the team which proved successful,” he said.

“I also enjoyed the opportunity to coach the Men’s team during their Olympic qualification in a dual capacity role back in 2015 and I have always been passionate and kept an interested eye on the team. I believe winning consistently is well within reach for them.”

Rugby Australia General Manager High Performance, Ben Whitaker said Walsh impressed with his Sevens coaching record and strategic vision for the Men’s program.

“This was an incredibly difficult decision and obviously we had two high quality candidates for the role from within our own Sevens program in Tim and Andy (Friend). We very much hope that both remain within the organisation,” said Whitaker.

“Tim’s record with the Women’s team speaks for itself and we believe he has a considerable amount of proven Sevens expertise and offers a coaching style that can continue the progression made by the Men’s program and take performance to the highest level.

“He is a transformational leader and operates within a style that is process driven and performance-based. Tim has contributed a lot to the growth of Rugby Sevens in Australia and most importantly, he has delivered results on a consistent basis.

“We understand that the timing of Tim’s announcement is difficult, but both he and Andy were understandably seeking clarity on their future and out of respect to both men we have decided to conclude the process prior to the Commonwealth Games.

“Tim and Andy are absolute professionals and have their focus and energy firmly on the job at hand of winning Gold on the Gold Coast. They are both first class individuals and the way they have conducted themselves throughout this difficult period is testament to the character of both men,” said Whitaker.

A former Queensland Reds flyhalf, Walsh represented the Australian Men’s Sevens team from 2002 to 2009.

Walsh was the inaugural and to date, only, Head Coach of the Olympic Champion Qantas Australian Women’s Sevens team.

Tim Walsh
Born: 10/04/79, Sydney
Playing position: Flyhalf
Australian Sevens: 2002-2009
Senior Teams (XVs): Queensland Reds (8 matches – 1999, 2004, 2010), North Harbour (NZ) Worcester, Leeds Carnegie, Birmingham & Solihull, Newbury (all UK), Patraca Padova (Ita)
Junior Representative Teams: Australian Schoolboys captain 1996, Australian U19 1998, Australian U21 2000
Coaching History: Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens coaching coordinator 2012-13, Australian Women’s Sevens Head Coach 2013-present, Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach 2015 (dual role while coaching Women’s team)