New Head Coach joins Cirencester Rugby
Cirencester Rugby is pleased to announce the appointment of Will Mawby as the new head coach for 2020/2021.
Following the departure at the end of the season of former Gloucester Rugby prop and Cirencester DoR Andy Deacon to Longlevens Rugby, Will has joined in the capacity of head coach to lead the senior rugby teams, and started back with the squad at training this week.
Will played last season at centre and so is a familiar face at the club with the players.
His rugby career has included a number of coaching appointments in both this country and abroad. He started coaching in New Zealand at Whanganui Collegiate school during his gap year, he then went onto coach his old school side Geelong Grammar School 1stXV in Australia whilst at home from University of Durham. He was forwards coach for Bloxham School 1stXV before joining the Army. In the Regular Army he went onto lead Regimental sides both in the Royal Signals and Royal Artillery. Following he had two successful seasons at Cumnor House School before going on to assist coaching at the RAU in 2013/14 during his MBA.
An open side flanker by trade, Will has had a varied playing career, after representing Australian Schools ‘A’ in 1998 (missing out on the main slot to Phil Waugh) he went to New Zealand to play club rugby where he was selected to play for the Whanganui Development XV. Whilst at Durham University he maintained a place in the 1stXV against stiff opposition mixing his university rugby with short spells at Gloucester U21 and then Worcester U21 before playing for Darlington Mowden Park in North Div 2 and Melbourne Rugby Club. Whilst in the Army, hampered by injury, he was able to maintain a place playing at Corps level whilst undertaking other operational and non-operational commitments. Since leaving the Regular Army in 2011, he has played rugby more socially until last season playing for Cirencester 1stXV, where he managed, remarkably, to remain (almost) injury free.
Commenting on his new role Will said: “I am delighted to be appointed as head coach at Cirencester Rugby. I had such a warm welcome last year playing, even forgiving me my love for a G&T over a pint and I think this is a real opportunity for me and the club to shape the way we play from 1stXV down and keeping this club as inclusive as possible. I keep things pretty simple coaching wise. I concentrate on the basics, set pieces, aggressive rugby and defence. Attacking comes naturally to most and actually I always feel it is best to let players play what is in front of them, playing the 15 men on the other side of the park, always respecting the opposition.”
“I also work hard on decision making. If all 15 can make the right decisions on the ball we have 15 leaders on the field, which is an empowering thing. Lastly, we all need to all enjoy our rugby when it returns. It’s been a unique start to the season and my new role but bonding at training is keeping us tight and we look forward to seeing the new regs and guidelines coming out from the RFU with regards to adapting the game structure so we can get playing again.”
Chairman Dave Reeves welcomed Will on behalf of the club and Exec Committee: “Will is a natural leader on and off the field and fits in well with the guys. The atmosphere is positive and new faces are showing up each week in pre-season.”
“Training has displayed healthy numbers for the past month or so and we are opening the clubhouse bar socially distancing and safe, in order to start building for the rugby return. During the summer the CDC has been hard at work on the new car park for the town at the entrance off the Whiteway, which will provide much needed car parking via council permits for the local business community. Will is joining at an exciting time and we look forward to watching some running rugby very soon.”
L to R: Will Mawby new head coach with skipper Ollie Gibson at Cirencester Rugby.
