Gard, Breen join Walsh

New South Canterbury Heartland rugby coach Nigel Walsh has named a familiar management team for the 2019 Heartland Championship campaign.

Walsh has backed those who helped him during his successful reign as Celtic coach in the South Canterbury Hamersley Cup senior rugby championship.

Shaun Breen will be his assistant, while former South Canterbury first five Chris Gard will be the backs coach.

Greg Brosnan will manage the team after being with Walsh at Celtic and Old Boys’. Physio Geoff Thompson retains his role.

Walsh said he was very happy with the makeup of the group.

‘‘Breeno [Breen], Gardy [Gard] and I have been at Celtic and had a pretty good record.

‘‘Gardy has a wealth of knowledge and was the ‘little general’ at first five when he played.’’

Walsh said he was looking for a group that could work together well.

‘‘We are all looking forward to a new challenge,’’ he said.

Breen had previously acknowledged he was interested in a role with the Heartland side, but had no desire to be head coach.

He and Walsh have both been successful with Celtic in their own right and gone on to coach New Zealand Marist.

Walsh has also spent three years with the North Otago Heartland team, the later two as head coach.