Donnelly pleased to be back

New Otago assistant coach Tom Donnelly, alongside Highlanders loose forward Luke Whitelock, at training at Logan Park last week.Photo: Peter McIntosh
New Otago assistant coach Tom Donnelly, alongside Highlanders loose forward Luke Whitelock, at training at Logan Park last week.Photo: Peter McIntosh
Tom Donnelly's feet have hardly touched the ground since he has returned from France.

But he is not complaining as he throws himself into his new role of Otago assistant coach.

Donnelly has just finished up three years playing rugby in France - the first two years for Montpellier, before playing last season for Bayonne.

He said the rugby in France was frustrating at times but the lifestyle was second to none.

''With a young family it was great. You could jump in your car and just head anywhere. Head down to Spain or get a cheap flight anywhere. So that was pretty cool,'' he said.

''The rugby was all right. It is getting better with the more internationals they have over there. But it is very much set piece orientated. They pride themselves on that, but it also can be pretty slow and disorganised.

''They have no back-up plans. Do not have plan B. So if something is not working then there is nothing to fall back on. It can be frustrating, but with the more foreigners coming into the game it is getting a lot better.''

Donnelly (35) admitted he struggled with the language - ''my 4-year-old son can speak better French than me'' - but was now focusing on the future with Otago.

''I played my last game six weeks ago and my body was feeling it. But it was more the mental side. Just turning up and having to do the same stuff every day. But they are a bit more organised here.''

The 15 test All Black lock - who only once played in a losing All Blacks side - said he was excited to get back to Otago and get his coaching under way.

''I did a bit with the Montpellier academy and then when I was at the Blues I did a bit of the lineouts.

''I'm just really excited to be here and it is a great time for footy in the region. The Highlanders are going great and Otago is coming off a good season last year. Hopefully we can put a good few performances out on the park.''

Otago will have to overcome the loss of key forwards Paul Grant, who is playing for Bath in England, and Tom Franklin, who is playing for Bay of Plenty.

''They are two pretty big losses but it just gives an opportunity for someone else to have a crack.''

He is learning as much of the coaching game as he can, sitting in on Highlanders coaching sessions.

His approach to coaching was similar to playing, wanting to aspire to the highest level possible. But it was just baby steps at the moment, although he is excited by the challenge.

Donnelly and wife Jacque, along with son Harvey (4) and daughter Charlie (14 months), are enjoying being back in Dunedin, although the temperature is somewhat colder.

It is a long way from when Donnelly first arrived in the south in 2000, fresh out of Rotorua Boys' High School. He studied surveying and graduated in 2005, but has never done a day's work in that line.

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