Dutch announce new sevens coach
The Dutch Rugby Union (NRB) have announced the appointment of Chris Lane as the new head coach of the Dutch Women’s Rugby Sevens team.
Published by John Birch, December 4th, 2013
2 minute read
Chris Lane replaced Gareth Gilbert, who left following a disappointing 2012/13 season for the Dutch women which saw them lose their status as one of the Women's Sevens Series core teams.
Chris's contract will run untill after the Olympics in the summer of 2016 (should the Netherlands qualify).
Chris was the first full-time women's coach ever appointed by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU). He resigned in June following 2013 Sevens World Championships, where Australia won the plate - a fifth place that matched their final position in the first Women's Sevens Series.
The newly appointed head coach says he’s looking forward to the new challange. “I am very excited about my appointment as head coach of the Netherlands Women's Rugby Sevens squad. I have watched the team closely over the last 2 years and have always been impressed with their rugby skills and athleticism. There is a world class training program already established here and I am looking forward to enhancing this program with my own knowledge, experience and skills.”
The Dutch were not lacking in applications for the post, but the final three candidates all came to the notice of the NRB via Womens Rugby Recruitment (WRR) - a recently-created off-shoot of the RahRah Rugby Recruitment agency.
Within minutes of the official annoucement, Chris Lane was on the field in Amsterdam with his new team.
The Netherlands have been invited to at least three of the upcoming Women's Sevens Series tournaments. However the centre of this year's campaign is likely to be the European Championships in June, which will be their first step to regaining core status. An announcement about the dates and locations of the tournaments is expected from FIRA later this month.