Coaches need protecting like players, says Moon
RUGBY’S coaches deserve greater protection and are being poorly served by comparison with players, according to Rugby Coaches Association director Richard Moon.
In a week that saw Leicester boss Matt O’Connor and Ealing head coach James Buckland axed by their clubs one game into the new season, Moon has questioned the reluctance of the RFU and Premiership Rugby to provide backing for the organisation he set up in 2012.
The RCA, which includes Sir Ian McGeechan among its directors, offers coaches advice on legal issues relating to contracts and terminations. In reality, it holds little clout and can do nothing to halt the footballstyle hire and fire mentality now pervading rugby.
Of the 13 clubs who are Premiership shareholders, including London Irish, six have changed their director of rugby within the last year, while only Exeter’s Rob Baxter, Dean Richards (Newcastle), Steve Diamond (Sale), Mark McCall (Saracens) and Dai Young (Wasps) have been in situ for more than two seasons. Geordan Murphy is Leices“Coaches ter’s fourth head coach in 18 months.
Former Quins scrumhalf Moon told The Rugby
Paper: “It’s a tough time for coaches and they’re underresourced in terms of having their own association like the League Managers Association in football and the Rugby Players Association in rugby.
are very vulnerable, whether that’s at international, Premiership, Championship or National League level, and I’ve had lots of experience of picking up the pieces.
“For guys like Matt O’Connor and James Buckland who’ve gone after one game, their ability to find another job is incredibly difficult. Everybody’s insitu and budgets are fixed.
“Players are cherished assets and get all manner of assistance, but coaches don’t appear to be valued as much and they’re always in the middle between owners who want results for their money and players who have their say.”
Despite the RCA being six years old and there being more than 300 professional coaches operating in the higher echelons of the game, from England to National League Two, Moon’s organisation has no full-time staff and is vastly restricted in the services it can offer.
“I’ve made representations to Premiership Rugby and the RFU without any joy,” Moon lamented.
“Clubs will say they fully support their coaches with continual career development and the RFU will say they’ve got lots of coaching development going on. But without any independent body to represent them, what safeguards do these coaches have?”