Rugby: First for Bay's global academy

ACADEMY FIRST: Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's Jason Shoemark, centre, with Darren Scott, left, from Texas, and Neil Foote, from San Francisco. PHOTO/PAUL TAYLOR

Rugby

Two United States-based Kiwis created a first for the Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union's global academy this week.

San Francisco-based Neil Foote and Texas-based Darren Scott are the first international coaches to embark on a two-week coaching stint run by the academy. For former Wairarapa Bush coach Foote it is a homecoming of sorts as the former first five-eighth played for Napier Technical in 1991.

Woodville-raised Scott is a former Manawatu representative who played in the United States, Australia and Canada before switching to coaching in 2007. He is bringing a Texas under-23 team on a tour of New Zealand next year and their first game will be against the Hawke's Bay under-19s.

The Hawke's Bay union's CEO Mike Bishop, talent development manager Jason Shoemark and Magpies assistant coach Danny Lee met with Foote when they were in the United States during April and May.

"It's not just the Kiwi clubs who are forming partnerships with clubs in the states. Heaps of English clubs are doing it too ... they know the athletes are there, they just have to be turned into rugby players," Foote said.

A hot topic for Scott, 36, will be culture building.

"As a young coach I find culture building hard to learn."

He is looking forward to sitting in the Magpies coaching box tomorrow night and observing the statistical work done by team technical advisor Peter O'Shaughnessy.
Scott has been impressed with the Magpies professional development work and team bonding exercises like their vege garden project at Napier's Park Island.

Former policeman Foote, who has also coached in Germany and Sri Lanka, coaches the San Francisco Golden Gate club which is one of the top clubs in the states. It plays in the Pacific Rugby Premiership alongside teams from Los Angeles, San Diego and Denver.

"Coming to the Bay has been a good opportunity to see players on the job at the next level, particularly their preparation. It also makes one appreciate the work which goes on behind the scenes. All spectators want is results but they will be surprised what goes on in attempt to get those results."