Moseley coach Glackin earns County honours
BIRMINGHAM Moseley received a major boost with the announcement that head coach Pete Glackin has been appointed assistant coach for England Counties’ short tour of Romania in June.
The former Birmingham & Solihull rugby director, who also previously coached at Coventry, joined new boss Adam Balding at Billesley Common over the summer.
And he pronounced himself “honoured and privileged” after working his way through a rigorous selection process to claim the prestigious role with the semi-pro game’s flagship team.
“I’ve followed the England Counties for a number of years, and had players selected from club teams I’ve coached,” he said.
“When the opportunity to apply came along I jumped at it, and after a robust interview and selection process, I was delighted to get the role.
“The profile of the Counties has gone from strength to strength over a number of years. It is now a great pathway for aspirational players and being involved is a real honour.”
Although the tour is seven months away, Glackin explains that the management team’s work is already under way.
“The process of highlighting possible players has already begun,” he said. “Part of my role is being involved with this, and along with a panel of other selectors we are aiming to identify players with high potential who have aspirations to play with England Counties.
“Final selection is from the county championship, which takes place in May, but the Counties want players from the highest possible standard in the community game which is National One and Two.
“The tour gives players a real taste of how it is to be a professional, and plenty have in the past gone on from an England Counties tour to play in the Premiership and internationally.
National Two South Esher’s head coach Chris Wilkins will be at the England Counties helm, and Glackin has already found plenty of common ground with his new temporary boss.
“I haven’t worked with Chris before, but we’ve been in regular dialogue since our appointments were finalised,” he said.
“He is from a very similar mould to me and is very much about player development. After being involved with England Counties for a few years as an assistant coach Chris has been promoted from within which has given me come on board.
“My remit on tour will be to look after our attack and backs while Chris looks at the forwards and defence. We’re only out there for ten days, so a lot has to be done beforehand to plan effectively and that will underpin the outcome.”
When Billesley Common hosted England Counties’ clash with Scotland clubs in 2017, Red-and-Black favourites Chris Brightwell, James Williams, George Oram and Dave Brazier all wore the red rose, and Glackin hopes other Midlanders will follow suit this summer.
“There are lots of really good players around, including a number at Midlands clubs, for whom this tour is an opportunity,” he said.
“We’ll be playing two games against select sides. When England Counties toured there two years ago they found some big, physical opponents so it should be a good test for us.”
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