Rugby: Brumbies sack coach, name replacement

Former Brumbies coach Andy Friend. Photo / Getty Images

Tony Rea has replaced Andy Friend as head coach of the Brumbies just two games into the Super rugby season.

Friend was sacked following a board meeting this morning amid reports of dissension in the player ranks at the Canberra-based franchise.

Rea was one of Friend's several assistant coaches at the Brumbies with skills and defence as his main responsibilities.

The Brumbies held a media conference to announce Rea would take over the top job until the end of the season.

A former rugby league hooker with North Sydney and the London Broncos, Rea was coach and chief executive of the Super League side before joining the Brumbies for the 2009 season.

Friend was in the final year of a three-year contract, after the team finished seventh in 2009 and sixth in 2010.

They beat the Chiefs 28-20 in the first round this season before suffering a shock one-point loss to newcomers the Melbourne Rebels last Friday.

- AAP