Andy Friend

Andy Friend born in Canberra, Australia is a rugby union coach and former player. He was the Head Coach at ACT Brumbies. Following the conclusion of the 2007-08 season he took up the role of Head Coach at the Super Rugby club, the CA Brumbies.[1] Andy Friend had his contract terminated on 1 March 2011 in the wake of a loss to the Melbourne Rebels and rumours to player discontent.[2] He went on to help out as a trainer for various Canberra high school teams. In 2014, Friend became the head coach of Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath.[3]

Brumbies

Friend signed a three-year contract with the Canberra-based CA Brumbies side and took over from Laurie Fisher.[4] Andy is the third coach to either be fired or not have their contract renewed by the ACT Brumbies board.

Club coaching career

Andy Friend joined English Premier League team Quins as Head Coach in the summer of 2005.[5][6]

Friend has held the assistant positions at the New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies.[7][8] He was also the former Brumbies skills coach under Eddie Jones.[9]

He has also coached in Japan for a number of years and worked within the Australian Institute of Sport rugby programme.[5][10]

International coaching career

Friend guided the Australian Under-21 team to the final of the 2005 World Championships.[11]

He worked within the Wallabies setup for the 2002 Tri Nations Series and 2003 Rugby World Cup.[12]

Playing career

Andy Friend played for the ACT and his position of choice was as a full-back.[13]

The Friendly Ride

Following an accident when his wife, Kerri Friend, came off of her bike and suffered a serious brain injury, Andy and Kerri Friend undertook a 5000km journey from Cooktown to Canberra to raise awareness and money for Acquired Brain Injury. This was to support Brain Injury Australia and Outward Bound. The journey was successful and was completed in late November.

References

  1. ↑ "Harlequins' Andy Friend named as Head Coach for ACT Brumbies". Quins. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  2. ↑ Brumbies Coach Sacked
  3. ↑ Andy Friend, nouvel entraîneur-chef de Suntory Sungoliath
  4. ↑ "Friend set to boss Brumbies". Sky Sports. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Andy Friend". Quins. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  6. ↑ "Quins' Friend gets Brumbies role". Guinness Premiership. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  7. ↑ "Andy Friend new Brumbies coach". Rugby Heaven. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  8. ↑ "Super 14: Andy Friend named coach of ACT Brumbies". International Herald Tribune. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  9. ↑ "Brumbies to confirm Friend's appointment". Fox Sports. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  10. ↑ "Friend appointed new Brumbies coach". Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  11. ↑ "Quins lose Friend to ACT Brumbies". BBC. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  12. ↑ "Friend to leave Quins". Sportinglife. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.
  13. ↑ "Friend appointed CA Brumbies Head Coach". Brumbies. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-17.

External links