Rugby: Hastings Rugby and Sports on the ball early

BRAINS TRUST: Hastings Rugby and Sports have already appointed their afternoon grade coaches and managers for next year. PHOTO/WARREN BUCKLAND

TAKE a bow Hastings Rugby and Sports!

Club stalwarts Brian McGrail and Mark Sowman have not only finalised their premier coaching staff for next year they have also appointed coaches and managers for all of their afternoon grade teams. To tick this off before the end of October is a tremendous feat and a first for the Hawke's Bay club rugby scene.

"All of the teams have new-look coaching staff and we're thrilled to have the senior thirds up and running again after two seasons out of the comp," rugby sub-committee member Sowman said.

Former Magpies midfield back Bevan Lynch is the new head coach of the premier team. He will have former Magpies Tivaini Fomai and Heyden Lafaele as his assistant coaches and club stalwart John Makris and former Magpie James Rosenberg as his managers.

Lynch, 48, will oversee the gameplans, attack and conditioning. Lafaele will be in charge of the backs, Fomai, who coached the unbeaten Hawke's Bay Samoans this season, will be in charge of the forwards and Rosenberg will also have a goalkicking mentor role.

"It's good to be getting back into coaching again. There's a lot of talent in the Hastings area with a lot of youngsters getting quality coaching at Hastings Boys' High School ... continuing that on at club level is a big goal for the club," Lynch said.

Lynch co-coached at the Hastings club with club stalwart Aaron Bartlett for two years before heading overseas for coaching stints in Northern Ireland and at the London Irish club.

"During the past couple of years I've been back in the Bay but I've been focusing on my new career as a real estate agent with Colliers. Because of this I will be coming in fresh and in a neutral frame of mind ... players wanting to push for premier team status will have a pathway."

"It's awesome to have Heyden and Tivaini on board. I taught both of them when I ran the rugby academy at Hastings Boys' High School. I rate Heyden as one of the most talented backs I've ever coached and I'm looking forward to him translating his playing ability into the coaching arena and Tivaini has already proved himself as a coach."

Lynch, who also played for the Manawatu Turbos, pointed out while his former Magpies teammate and long-time Hastings Rugby and Sports Sevens mentor Jeff Karika has already got sevens training in full swing. Players not involved with those will be able to begin 15s trainings from next week.

'You will be behind the eight ball if you leave the conditioning until after Christmas."

Bartlett, who has had a head coach or co-coach role with the club's premier or development grade teams for the past 15 years, stepped down because of increasing business commitments.

"I wish the new crew all the best. I know they will accept the challenge to take the team in the same direction or higher than we've been in recent seasons and I know they have embraced some of the traditions we set," Bartlett said.

While he admitted he didn't achieve the results he wanted at Maddison Trophy level with three semifinals and a final finish, Bartlett had every right to be proud of the success he has had in developing new Magpies - including Tom Parsons, Jason Long, Ben Hamelink and this year's club rugby MVP Neria Fomai.

The Hastings Rugby and Sports coaching staff for 2017:
Premiers: Head coach, Bevan Lynch; assistant coaches, Tivaini Fomai and Heyden Lafaele. Managers, James Rosenberg and John Makris.
Development: Co-coaches, Aaron McGrail and Daniel Nukunuku. Manager, Steven Laracy.
Colts: Co-coaches, Andrew Hui and Aaron Painter. Managers, Peter Scott and Ina Pumati Ching Ching.
Senior Thirds: Co-coaches, Karl Houia and Richard Dudley. Manager, Tony Morehu.
Women: Co-coaches, Tui Smith and Ray Rima. Assistant coach, Jamie Heather. Managers, Marley Te Ahuru and Katy Nathan.
Sevens: Coach, Jeff Karika. Manager, John Makris.