Force set to unveil new Super coach

The Western Force will announce their new Super Rugby coach on Wednesday, with assistant Dave Wessels in the mix.

The Western Force will announce their new head coach on Wednesday, with assistant Dave Wessels in the mix to get the job.

The Force have been on the lookout for a new coach since sacking Michael Foley with a year remaining on his contract in June.

Wessels, who worked as a senior assistant under Foley for three years, took charge for the final three games of the Super Rugby season.

Although all three of those matches resulted in losses, Wessels was among a handful of candidates to be short listed for the full-time job.

Former Force assistant John Mulvihill and former All Blacks back-rower Jonno Gibbes were others reportedly being considered.

Wessels, 34, would become the youngest current coach in Super Rugby if he gets the job.

The Force endured a tumultuous 2016 campaign - both on and off the field.

The Perth-based franchise only narrowly avoided the wooden spoon after two wins from 15 games.

Their financial struggles were laid bare in June when the Australian Rugby Union took the drastic measure of forming an alliance with the Force to ensure the franchise didn't go under.

The Force's long-term future is still far from secure.

The franchise has until the next TV rights deal - in four years - to prove they are worth keeping in the competition.


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world