Coaching chance Skivington and Waldouck team up for England A
GLOUCESTER director of rugby George Skivington will head up an all-gallagher Premiership line-up of coaching staff to lead England A against Portugal this February.
The A side return after an eight-year absence for an encounter with Os Lobos at Leicester on Sunday, February 25.
Skivington will be joined in the dugout by fellow Gloucester coach Dom Waldouck, who will lead on defence, whilst Northampton’s Sam Vesty will be in charge of England’s attack.
Having retired from a successful playing career with Wasps in 2016, Skivington moved into coaching, firstly with Samoa in 2015 before working at London Irish as an assistant coach between 2016 and 2020. He was later appointed head coach at Gloucester in 2020.
The 41-year-old is no stranger to the England A team environment having captained the side on a number of occasions.
He lifted the Churchill Cup in 2010, having also played in a 66-0 win over Portugal for the team in 2009.
Waldouck accompanied Skivington in that convincing victory, scoring a try in the only previous meeting of the nation’s 15 years ago at Sedgley Park.
The 36-year-old also has playing experience with the England Under-20 team.
Former centre Waldouck has been a part of the coaching group at Kingsholm since Skivington’s appointment four seasons ago and previously lifted the Heineken Cup and Premiership title as a Wasps player.
Vesty, the head coach of Northampton, will lead the A side’s attack.
Vesty’s Saints are currently top of the
Premiership and the coach will hope to bring with him the attacking threat that has seen Saints top the Premiership’s try-scoring charts for the last two seasons.
The 42-year-old knows Welford Road well having played for Leicester 164 times, becoming the fourth member of his family to play for the club before moving to Bath where he made a further 64 appearances.
The utility back retired in 2013 before taking on a coaching role at Worcester.
Whilst at Sixways, Vesty was appointed skills coach for England’s two-test tour of Argentina. In 2018, he was named Northampton attack coach.
The coaching team was chosen in consultation alongside Premiership Rugby, with the selection of the first matchday 23 since 2016 to be determined by senior men’s head coach, Steve Borthwick, in due course.
Portugal will provide a stern test for England Men’s A team after a strong showing in last year’s World Cup, which included a draw against Georgia followed by a maiden tournament win over quarter-finalists Fiji.
Skivington voiced his delight at the opportunity.
“It’s a massive honour to be asked by Conor (O’shea) and Steve (Borthwick) to lead the A team next month. I recognise the trust they have placed in me with this opportunity, and I look forward to linking up with the coaching group and the squad in February.
“I’m delighted that Dom Waldouck will be joining me as defence coach. His passion for the game and dedication to his craft makes him an exciting young coach who I think will develop to be one of the best in the country.
“The England A team will serve as a good opportunity for young English players on the cusp of international honours to show what they’re about.”
Vesty said: “It’s always a privilege and an honour to be asked to help support England, to wear a Red Rose on your chest and to compete at a high level, so I can’t wait to get started.
RFU Executive Director of Performance Rugby Conor O’shea said: “I’d like to thank both Gloucester and Northampton, alongside Premiership Rugby, for their collaboration and effort in assembling what is a very exciting coaching panel. “We’re fortunate to possess a coaching staff boasting a wealth of experience in the game that totals decades and will be a fantastic match for the appropriate challenge of Os Lobos.
“Each member of the coaching staff was picked with the consideration of their ability to develop young players and bringing international talent to the top of English rugby.
“This fixture, as well as the England A games to come, aims to elevate that platform and build a consistent pathway for young English players into the senior level of the game in this country.”