Pat Howard
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Patrick William Howard, usually known as Pat Howard or Paddy Howard (born 14 November 1973) is an ex-head coach at Leicester Tigers and a former Australian rugby union international who played centre or fly-half. He was educated at Queensland University.
He was born in Sydney. His father Jake Howard played prop for Australia and his grandfather Cyril Towers also played centre for the Wallabies.
[edit] Playing career
He started his career playing for the University of Queensland Football club. Studying pharmacy at the University he was a receipient of a prestgious University of Queensland Sporting Scholarships. Picked up by the Queensland Reds, before moving to the ACT Brumbies, he also played club football at Sydney University. Howard played 20 tests for Australia between 1993 and 1997, making his debut against New Zealand. In 1998 he signed for Leicester Tigers, displacing Will Greenwood, who was forced return to Harlequins for first team rugby. Howard became a pivotal part of the Tigers' championship winning side.
[edit] Coaching career
After the departure of Joel Stransky in 2000, he was appointed as the Tigers' backs coach, however he had his sights set on regaining a Wallaby jersey ahead of the 2003 World Cup. He returned to the Brumbies in 2001, swapping his playing position with Rod Kafer, but was unable to make the squad for the World Cup. He then returned to Europe, playing for French side Montferrand in 2003.
After retiring as a player at the end of the season in 2004, Howard returned to Leicester Tigers, once again becoming backs coach. In 2005 he was appointed as head coach succeeding John Wells.
He guided Tigers to the Guinness Premiership and EDF Energy Cup finals in 2007, winning the domestic double. They also made the final of the Heineken Cup but were denied an historic treble - succumbing to Wasps 25-9.
On 28 December 2006 he announced he would resign as coach of the Tigers at the end of the 2006/7 season[1]. Marcelo Loffreda was named Howard's successor, who takes up his new role after the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Howard returned to his native Australia to manage his family's pharmaceutical company, however quickly became general manager of the Australian Rugby Union's high performance unit.[2]
He is currently linked with the position of Ireland Head coach with the bookies making him the favourite at 2-1. It was reported on Irish Radio on 22nd March 2008 that he has turned down the opportunity of coaching Ireland.
