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Anderson switches codes
From correspondents in London
July 29, 2004
WORLD Cup and premiership-winning rugby league coach Chris Anderson today signed a two-year contract with the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby union club.
Anderson ... to coach Welsh club.
Anderson, 50, will head up the coaching team with former Wales assistant coach Leigh Jones, as his deputy. He replaces Mike Ruddock who became Wales' national coach in May.
"While rugby league has been his game, we feel he will bring the right kind of qualities to the Dragons to both challenge and improve our side," said the club's chief executive Andy Marinos.
"He is a proven winner on the rugby field and that is why we have brought him to Wales," he added.
Marinos defended the club's choice of a rugby league coach who has never coached a rugby union team before.
"People have asked me about Chris' rugby union knowledge after a lifetime spent playing and coaching in the 13-a-side game," said Marinos.
"But he has studied the game over a long period of time and has recently been helping with the coaching at the Southern Districts club in Sydney."
Marinos added that Anderson will have in Jones "one of Welsh rugby's finest technical coaches".
Anderson coached Australia to win the 2000 World Cup and a 3-0 series win against Great Britain in 2003.
He also won two premierships with former club Canterbury-Bankstown in 1995 and Melbourne Storm in 1999.
The former international also won the English Division One league premiership in 1986 with Halifax, where he was player-coach.
From correspondents in London
July 29, 2004
WORLD Cup and premiership-winning rugby league coach Chris Anderson today signed a two-year contract with the Newport Gwent Dragons rugby union club.
Anderson ... to coach Welsh club.
Anderson, 50, will head up the coaching team with former Wales assistant coach Leigh Jones, as his deputy. He replaces Mike Ruddock who became Wales' national coach in May.
"While rugby league has been his game, we feel he will bring the right kind of qualities to the Dragons to both challenge and improve our side," said the club's chief executive Andy Marinos.
"He is a proven winner on the rugby field and that is why we have brought him to Wales," he added.
Marinos defended the club's choice of a rugby league coach who has never coached a rugby union team before.
"People have asked me about Chris' rugby union knowledge after a lifetime spent playing and coaching in the 13-a-side game," said Marinos.
"But he has studied the game over a long period of time and has recently been helping with the coaching at the Southern Districts club in Sydney."
Marinos added that Anderson will have in Jones "one of Welsh rugby's finest technical coaches".
Anderson coached Australia to win the 2000 World Cup and a 3-0 series win against Great Britain in 2003.
He also won two premierships with former club Canterbury-Bankstown in 1995 and Melbourne Storm in 1999.
The former international also won the English Division One league premiership in 1986 with Halifax, where he was player-coach.
Thats great news.... :badgrin:
