Wake ‘honoured’ to be given a new rugby role
Matt Wake says it's an ‘honour’ to have been handed the opportunity to form part of Portsmouth RFC’s new lead coach team.
And the Fareham-based former Gosport & Fareham, US Portsmouth and Petersfield representative is relishing getting his teeth into the position after a season away from club rugby.
Wake, 45, will work alongside Dan Roberts, who was at Portsmouth last term, and Chris Jones following Gareth Richards’ decision to resign as head coach last month.
Portsmouth will next season play in the Counties 1 Hampshire division, alongside the likes of Havant Dolphins, Gosport & Fareham, Petersfield and Eastleigh, following a major revamp of the RFU league structure from step three and below.
‘I knew it was vacant (head coach role) but I was kind of - I wouldn't say enjoying my sabbatical because I missed it - but the phone call came out of the blue from a representative from the Portsmouth committee asking if I'd be interested,’ said Wake.
‘I was really honoured to be asked, to be honest, having been around the rugby community for a while now - it's a big club, it's been up in the National Leagues, but it was too good of an opportunity to turn down.
‘I didn't have any plans to take on such a big role, I'd have been quite happy doing a bit here and there, but it's a good opportunity, good job, big club and good people to work around.’
This will represent Wake's first-ever lead coach role within a senior rugby set up, but he is not daunted.
And Wake, currently in his first year as Locks Heath CC chairman - where he also still plays - believes being able to share the burden of responsibility with his fellow lead coaches will be a good thing as Portsmouth look to establish themselves as a rugby force again.
He added: ‘They're (the club) quite keen not to pigeonhole people by name. When they rang me up and asked me, it was assumed I'd be taking the lead in coaching the men's team along with Chris Jones and Dan Roberts.
‘It's that kind of job where you can't just do it on your own. Dan was there last year, he's someone I'm looking forward to working with, new ideas and ways of doing things. I've known Chris for 10 years, we've done plenty of coaching together in that time.’