Western Force signs Head Coach : Tim Sampson

Feb 23 • General News, Super Rugby, Super Rugby News • 1527 Views • Comments Off on Western Force signs Head Coach : Tim Sampson

The coach with the most successful win-loss record in last year’s National Rugby
Championship, Tim Sampson, will lead the return of the Western Force.
Sampson will move to Perth by April to start a two-year contract as the Head Coach of a
reinvigorated Force team.
The experienced player-turned-coach said he was excited to move to Perth to continue with
the solid foundations that have been set up throughout Western Australian junior rugby and
pathway systems.
“I am looking forward to working alongside people who are genuinely passionate about rugby,
and just as importantly meeting the extremely loyal supporters of the Western Force”
Sampson said.
“I believe those new to the club, including myself, must not underestimate the positive impact
that the past players and staff have had on rugby in the West.
“I am extremely motivated to continue to build on what has already been established and I
am looking forward to contributing to a successful and exciting period in Western Australian
rugby.”
Sampson was the head coach of NRC side the Canberra Vikings last season, guiding the team
to secure the minor premiership before going down in the grand final to Queensland Country.
The Vikings’ 2017 NRC campaign led to Sampson’s appointment as an assistant for the
Australian U20s late last year.
He is also the coaching director at Tuggeranong Vikings, which won the John I Dent Cup during
his first year in charge. Sampson led the Brisbane Easts to the 2015 grand final, previously
held senior coaching roles with Queensland Reds A and Queensland Country and was a backs
coach at Kamaishi Seawaves in Japan.
During his playing career, Sampson represented Queensland, the Ballymore Tornadoes,
Brisbane’s Sunnybank and Irish club Wanderers.
Rugby Australia General Manager High Performance, Ben Whitaker said: “Tim is quality young
Coach who has followed a classic developmental path through the Australian coaching system
starting with Sunnybank and Easts in Brisbane before joining the Tuggeranong Vikings and
Canberra Vikings NRC program.
“He had a tremendous season with the Canberra Vikings as Head Coach last year, taking them
all the way to the NRC Grand Final and then came on as an assistant in the Australian Under
20s program in December.
“We are delighted for Tim to have the opportunity to lead the Western Force and we look
forward to continuing our involvement with him as he builds for 2018 and the NRC. Tim will
do an outstanding job in WA and will continue to be an important part of the Australian Rugby
coaching set-up.”