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Ex-All Black to coach Canada
19/03/2008 08:57 - (SA)
Wellington - Former All Black Kieren Crowley has been named as coach of the Canadian national team.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to coach the Canadian side," Crowley said in a statement released by the New Zealand Rugby Union on Wednesday.
Crowley, 46, played 19 Tests for the All Blacks as fullback between 1985 and 1991 and went on to coach provincial team Taranaki for nine years from 1998, as well as New Zealand's world championship winning Under-19 team last year.
Rugby Canada director David Robertson said in a statement that Canada were delighted to get someone of Crowley's stature.
Crowley said in the statement that he believed his new team were fast improving.
"My impression of them at the moment is that they are a very physical team and they have very good set piece plays," he said.
"There is still work to be done in those areas but they have done well and the area that possibly needs improvement I think is the vision or the ability to change things when things are not as structured as they should be."
New Zealand Rugby Union chief executive Steve Tew said Crowley had had an outstanding coaching career in New Zealand.
"There is an ongoing global demand for New Zealand coaches and with New Zealand coaches leading Wales, Australia, the US and now Canada, it's clear they are recognised as among the best in the world," he said.
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Rugby
