Coaching duo quit England for American foreign Legion
TWO young English coaches are hoping the United States truly is the land of opportunity as they carve out the next stage of their careers.
Former Wasps and London Irish centre Rob Hoadley is gearing up for the debut of Major League Rugby as head coach of San Diego Legion, where ex-England 7s international Chris Cracknell forms part of his support team.
They find themselves fuelling the latest attempt to establish a professional league in the States amid concerns over a lack of opportunities for English coaches on the Premiership stage.
“There is more than one way to the top and I think having a broader horizon will eventually pay dividends in the long run,” said Hoadley, who also had a spell coaching Ricoh Black Rams in Japan.
“I think there are plenty of opportunities if you work hard and have ability.”
Cracknell was among those frustrated by the lack of options at home after helping steer Fiji to Olympic gold alongside Ben Ryan but retains a positive mindset.
“I applied for a lot of things, I wasn’t shy about putting myself forward for stuff, and to be honest I got a little frustrated,” said Cracknell.
“Rugby in the UK is in an amazing place, and the opportunities for rugby players are fantastic, but there is still a stigma around 7s.
“But as me and Ben (Ryan) harp on about, rugby is rugby, you’ve got to be able to catch, pass and tackle.
“Yes, there are some intricate bits you need to learn in the XVs environment, but as a 33-year-old coach I am willing to learn those things and make myself the most rounded coach I can possibly be.”
Hoadley insists he is totally focused on laying the foundation for success with the Legion.
“The goal is we will be a Premiership standard side within a number of years so we will be bringing that Premiership standard to American rugby,” he said.
“I’ve had opportunities to go back to Premiership roles; I just see the opportunities growing here so much and the ideal picture is playing and coaching to a Premiership standard but here in America.”
Cracknell is also determined to inspire success while bolstering his coaching CV.
“I went to Fiji for a reason, that was because I always had a personal goal of wanting to go to the Olympics,” he said.
“That has led me down a path to continue coaching overseas and learn from those experiences.
“I am very lucky to be a young English coach who has coached more overseas than he has in the UK and experienced different cultures and environments. Hopefully one day an opportunity will come to use those skills back in the UK.”