Bordeaux job just too good to turn down
FORMER England No.8 Luke Narraway says the opportunity to help transform Bordeaux’s team of superstars into Top 14 winners was too attractive to ignore.
Narraway, 34, had expected to continue as player-coach at Coventry next season, having helped the ambitious West Midlands outfit into the Championship.
However, he will now link with fellow English coaches Rory Teague and Joe Worsley as forwards and skills coach as Bordeaux set sights on next season’s play-offs. Narraway told The
Rugby Paper: “It’s quite a step up and it’s come a couple of years earlier than I thought it might, but I just couldn’t turn this opportunity down.
“A little bit of me is sad that I won’t be at Coventry to see guys I coached make that next jump into the Championship, but I’ve had a relationship with Rory Teague from our days together at Gloucester and when the post came up we chatted about it.
“Bordeaux are looking to bounce back from a relatively poor season and we’ve signed some really good players. I’ll be looking after the lineout and doing a lot of skills stuff with the forwards, so we’re looking to do things a bit differently and build something.”
Among Bordeaux’s new signings is flying Fijian Semi Radrada, who tore England apart playing for the Barbarians last week. He is joined my former La Rochelle pair Afa Amosa and Brock James, while All Black Seta Tamanivalu arrives from the Crusaders.
“They’re all high quality players and we’re putting together a hell of a squad,” says Narraway, who has previous Top 14 experience from playing at Perpignan.
“French rugby can be a bit forward-orientated and it’s full of big men running into each other, but we’d like to remove a few inhibitions. We want to install something of the Toulon attitude at Bordeaux and get this club into Europe as well.”
He added: “Having experienced the Top 14 with Perpignan, I know French rugby’s strengths and weaknesses. We’ll put a structure in place while keeping hold of that French flair, its skills and the willingness to actually go out there and play.”
Coventry director of Rugby Rowland Winter admits it’s a blow to see Narraway move on.
He said: “Although it’s unfortunate that we lose him, it is a great opportunity for Luke to challenge himself at a higher level as a coach in the Top 14.
“He has had a great impact on the club as a player and has shown his leadership and experience consistently to contribute to our successful season.
“Off the pitch as a new coach, he has worked hard to add clarity and detail to our defence, which has laid strong foundations for us to now build on.
“It shows that the National Leagues can be a great stepping stone for players and coaches to learn and progress. We now have a great opportunity to reshuffle the coaching team and strengthen the playing squad ahead of the new season.”