Rugby: Brown to succeed Brown as Otago coach

Cory Brown (rear) supports Taine Randell during a Highlanders pre-season game in Oamaru in 2000....
Cory Brown (rear) supports Taine Randell during a Highlanders pre-season game in Oamaru in 2000. Photo by ODT.

Cory Brown has exactly the calibre and experience needed for his new role, Otago Rugby Football Union general manager Richard Kinley says.

Brown (38), the younger brother of departing Otago coach Tony Brown, was yesterday announced as the new coach of the Otago ITM Cup side.

He has signed a three-year deal and his new role will also involve coaching coaches and overseeing the coaching and playing strategy of Otago sides right through the grades.

Kinley said he was pleased to get a coach of the capabilities of Brown on board.

''We are really excited to have someone of the calibre and ability of Cory to want to come back and help out Otago rugby,'' Kinley said.

''You look at his background - you have got a guy who has played to a high level both here and overseas.

"He has high-level coaching experience and has played in different environments and in different styles of play.

''He has played for Otago, knows our environment and knows what we are trying to achieve.''

Kinley said he was not worried that Brown had not been in Otago for many years and was not familiar with players contracted to Otago.

''When you are looking for a coach at this level then you don't worry about whether he knows all the players. We want people who are passionate about Otago and who are prepared to get involved.

''Cory is exactly that. He is prepared to come home and bring his family halfway round the world for this job.''

Brown, who turned out for the Harbour club, played 12 games for Otago from 1999 to 2003 as a halfback, playing in the shadow of All Black Byron Kelleher.

He also played some pre-season games for the Highlanders but never played in the Super rugby competition.

He then played overseas in Japan, France and Italy.

He went into coaching at both club and representative level after finishing playing, first in Italy and then Ireland.

He was a head coach with Italian club Leonessa and in Ireland with Connacht Juniors as well as the Galwegians RFC, which he led to the All Ireland championship.

He is at present coaching with the Connacht side, one of the four fully professional sides in Irish rugby which play in the Pro 12 league with Scottish, Welsh and Italian clubs.

Brown works as a resource coach and a back coach alongside former Blues coach Pat Lam.

Married with three young children, Brown will start his job with Otago on January 19.

Kinley said Tony Brown, who had moved into an assistant coaching role with the Highlanders, had no input into the new coaching position.

Kinley said the Otago team had the stability of assistant coach Phil Young, manager Grant Hubbard and physiotherapist Ash Stiven appointed for next year.

He said the position had attracted plenty of interest and good candidates and it had been a tough choice.

He declined to reveal the unsuccessful candidates.

It is believed former Otago first five-eighth and Otago assistant coach John Haggart had been interviewed for the position but had second thoughts.

Other candidates such as Craig Newby and Murray Roulston were passed over.

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