Laurie Fisher still has plenty to offer to Australian rugby should he make a permanent move home, Force centre Bill Meakes says.
Fisher stepped down from his role as Gloucester head coach midway through a disappointing season through the club, two days after posting an ominous tweet about Gloucester’s 30-27 loss to Harlequins.
“Unbelievable capitulation. Clearly not good enough. My responsibility. Time to make room for someone else,” he posted.
Meakes, who played under Fisher for the past three seasons at Gloucester, said he wasn’t sure how to react when he first heard the news.
“I saw the tweet initially, didn't really know what to make of it,” he said.
“Then I messaged a few of the boys at Gloucester and they said they hadn't seen him after the game.
“He's formally stood down, which is really disappointing but I think he stated that he feels like his time's done there and he tried as hard as he could and I think it's all been left pretty amicable.”
“It's a real shame that Gloucester are having another disappointing year but wish all the best to Laurie.”
Meakes said he felt he owed his Super Rugby chance, at least in part, to Fisher, who was hugely influential on the centre.
“For me, individually he basically transformed the way I approach the breakdown and made that a real strength for me, which is probably one of the main reasons that I got a gig back here,” he said.
“He had a huge impact on my career so far and Dave (Force coach Dave Wessels) was telling me how complimentary Laurie was of me when Dave was deciding whether or not to offer me a contract here."
As soon as Fisher and Gloucester announced their ‘parting of ways’ on Tuesday, talk began about whether he would return to Australia and his services would certainly be valuable for any franchise.
Fisher was active on Twitter through the day, responding to supporters’ messages, saying he was unsure about his next destination, but that would certainly be going via home.
@paders85 Destination unknown James but will be via home for sure.
— Laurie Fisher (@LordLaurie58) March 7, 2017
The Brumbies are on the hunt for a head coach, with a view to possibly appointing someone by the end of the month.
While it’s reportedly unlikely Fisher would take a head role, he has found success with the Brumbies as a forwards coach in the past..
Whatever his role is, Meakes said Fisher would be an asset to Australian rugby if he did return.
“I think he had a really successful couple of years at the Brumbies and I know he still keeps in touch with them a fair bit and tracks the Super Rugby week in, week out,” he said.
“He's a rugby glut so I'd be delighted to see him back in Australia.”
The Force take on the Brumbies on Friday night at 7:45pm AEDT, LIVE on FOX SPORTS and via radio on RUGBY.com.au.
