John Mitchell's Lions Coaching Gig Confirmed

[Lance Free]

Press release from the Force - Mitch will be the Head Coach during Dick Muir's absence with the Boks and then off to Toshiba in what was a contra deal for David Hill......

MITCHELL CONSULTANCY AT LIONS CONFIRMED

Emirates Western Force Head Coach John Mitchell has been granted approval by RugbyWA to undertake a consultancy coaching position at the Lions for the 2010 Currie Cup competition in South Africa.

RugbyWA Chief Executive Officer Vern Reid has worked with Mitchell to develop a schedule which will ensure the coach is able to fulfill his planning duties in the lead-up to the Force pre-season training program.

“John expressed his desire to use his accrued annual leave entitlements to further his coaching expertise and we have allowed him to undertake the role at the Lions with the understanding it will not impact negatively on the Emirates Western Force preparations for 2011,” Mr Reid said.

“The Lions will give John an insight into another rugby program but he has always indicated that the Emirates Western Force is his number one priority and we are confident his impeccable standards in preparing our side will not be adversely affected.”

Mitchell will join the Lions in the coming weeks and return to Australia for several stints throughout the Currie Cup to review the Super 14 preparations of Force players who are participating in rugby competitions in Sydney and Perth.

Lions Director of Coaching, Dick Muir, will be with the Springboks during the 2010 Tri-Nations in his capacity as Backline Coach, and will return to the Lions during the final four to six weeks of the Currie Cup. During his absence Mitchell will head the coaching team and will work closely with Muir during the final weeks of the competition.

Mr Reid also confirmed that Mitchell would spend some time with Japanese club Toshiba in the coming months as part of an arrangement which allowed David Hill to join the Emirates Western Force in 2010 as an injury replacement for Andre Pretorius.

Mitchell will return to Perth in October to guide the Emirates Western Force for a sixth season.

 

[en_force_er]

Good on him. Maybe he can pinch a decent flyhalf.

 

[daz]

Since the 2010 S14 campaign is now over and Mitchell was not thrown out the very second the final siren sounded, I take it that he is very much confirmed as Force coach in 2011?

 

[RugbyReg]

they advertised a while ago for a new coach. I guess they're weighing up their options? You heard anything yet Moses? Did you make the 2nd round?

 

[waratahjesus]

surely they are trying to replace him for next year.
in my opinion, announcing his departure so early made it clear he wanted out, but i guess he wants a certain figure and the force want him to just go, the force dont really deserve to waste a year when they could be building the squad towards something a new coach who is going to be around wants to do.

 

[PaarlBok]

Well good luck to him, he and Spencer have a job on their hands.

 

[Coach]

JM wanted to stay for 2011 which is why he announced so early that he would be.

Force will likely have Graham, in 2011 ...

 

[waratahjesus]

JM wanted to stay for 2011 which is why he announced so early that he would be.

Force will likely have Graham, in 2011 ...

if he was so keen to see out his contract, why did he announce it over a year before. It doesnt make sense in anyway. The only way it does is if he was hoping he would get a decent offer from someone and wanted to be able to negotiate.

Hopefully the force have a good transition in place, Graham moving up makes sense, but they seem to have struggled with recruitment lately and a big name coach may be high on the radar again to prevent that from continuing.

 

[Ash]

Growden in his column today spoke of rumours of a Scott Johnson / John Muggleton coaching combination at the Force.