Wallabies secure Grey as assistant

Cape Town - The ARU have confirmed the full-time appointment of Nathan Grey as national assistant coach after signing a new two-year contract with the Wallabies.

Grey joined the Wallabies coaching team in 2014 while also coaching at the Waratahs as an assistant to then Michael Cheika and now head coach Daryl Gibson.

Grey will exit all Waratahs duties at the end of the team’s 2017 season.

The appointment comes amid mass changes at Moore Park, with Cameron Blades also moving on at seasons end.

The 35-Test centre will now form part of the Wallabies full-time coaching structure alongside former team-mate and Wallaby Stephen Larkham, former Argentinian great Mario Ledesma and Mick Byrne until the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan.

“I have really enjoyed working with this current Wallaby group, as well as the national coaching group,” Grey said.

“I hope we can continue to grow to be where we know we can be, and I’m looking forward to being part of that.

“It will be very tough to leave the Waratahs but I will continue to be based in Sydney and look forward to spending time rotating around with the Australian Super Rugby teams.” 

Cheika recruited Grey to the Waratahs from the Melbourne Rebels at the end of 2013, before winning the club’s maiden Super Rugby title in 2014.

“Nathan has been invaluable asset in his roles at both the Waratahs and Wallabies with me over the last few years,” said Cheika

“He is very passionate about his coaching and even more passionate about the Wallaby Jersey and what it stands for.

“Having myself coached both (a Super Rugby team and the Wallabies) in 2015, I know how tough a task it is to be in game mode for nearly 10 months a year and I’m pleased for Nathan that he will get the chance to devote his time to a national role.

“It’s another piece of the puzzle to add to the national coaching framework with Stephen (Larkham) going full-time at the end of the Super Rugby season too, joining Mario and Mick, and our desire to get our Wallabies to the top while also leaving a legacy for rugby around the country."