ARU in Sao Paulo to coach the coaches thanks to COALAR

Fri, Feb 21, 2014, 1:00 AM
AAP
by AAP

Representatives from the Australian Rugby Union this week travelled to south-eastern Brazil to help the spread the word about Rugby Sevens at a two-day clinic for up-and-coming South American coaches.

Dale Roberson, Rugby Sevens Game Development Manager, along with Qantas Women’s Sevens National Coach Tim Walsh and Manager Scott Bowen, travelled to Sao Paulo in a trip supported by the Australian Government through the Council on Australia Latin America Relations (COALAR), an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

COALAR was established by the Australian Government in 2001 to enhance Australia’s economic, political and social relations with Latin America.

Over two days and in front of 20 coaches from South America, including Brazil, Colombia and Peru, Roberson hosted a development coaching course aimed at building the capacity and capability of the South American Unions to develop Rugby Sevens over the longer term at a community level and an elite performance workshop targeted at South American high performance coaches seeking to develop their standing internationally on the road to Rio 2016.

As part of the two day clinic course attendees also attended two training sessions involving the Qantas Women’s Sevens Team and took part in a Question and Answer session with Women’s Sevens Head Coach Tim Walsh ahead of the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series event in Sao Paulo this weekend.

Dale Roberson said: “It was a pleasure to be able to work with some of the most talented coaches in Latin America, who came to the session with open minds and were willing to listen and learn.

“I hope the ARU’s visit to this part of the world plays a part in growing the game in the region – particularly with Rugby Sevens making its Olympics debut in this country in just two years’ time.”

Tim Walsh, who enjoyed spells in England and Italy during his playing career, said: “It’s important to look beyond the performance of my team on the pitch and play a part in growing the game from the ground up. You can easily lose sight of the bigger picture.

“I was only too happy to answer questions and give the coaches a few thoughts on my methods.”

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