Super Rugby team Western Force sack coach Foley

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Western Force sacked coach Michael Foley on Thursday, two weeks after the Perth-based Super Rugby team was taken over by the Australian Rugby Union (ARU).





Foley has been in charge for four years but his team has mustered up only two wins from 12 matches in the 2016 season, which resumes next month after the international break.

Assistant coach Dave Wessels will take charge for the last three matches of the season on a caretaker basis with a new coach to be installed for next season.

"Michael is a fine coach and has done a good job in his four years with the team considering some of the obvious challenges he’s faced," Rugby Western Australia chief Mark Sinderberry said in a news release.

"We would have liked to have had more success during this time but the Western Force also had its most successful season under Michael in 2014.

"With the team out of contention for finals, it was appropriate timing for both parties to look to the future and that's why we have agreed to part ways.

"We wish Michael all the best for the future and will commence a process together with the ARU to appoint a new head coach for the 2017 season."

Foley, a former Wallabies hooker who also coached the New South Wales Waratahs in 2011-12, led the Force to nine victories and the brink of the playoffs for the first time two years ago.

They slumped to the bottom of the table with three wins last year, however, and, despite some encouraging pre-season results, their inability to score tries again cost them dearly this year.





(Reporting by Nick Mulvenney, editing by Ian Ransom)


Share

2 min read

Published

Source: Reuters



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