The ACT Brumbies have finalised their 2023 Super Rugby Pacific and Super W staff with several exciting additions and returning faces joining the club’s High-Performance unit (HPU).
General Manager Chris Thomson joined the club late last year, with the former World Rugby High-Performance Project Manager for Pathways and Player Development also heading up the Brumbies Super W and pathways program.
The High-Performance team will be guided by Team Manager Bill Swain, Assistant Manager Mal Daisley and Assistant Logistics Manager and club legend, Garry ‘Quinzo’ Quinlivan.
Byron Field returns to the club following a four-year stint with Bath Rugby in England. Field spent 8 seasons with the Brumbies from 2011 to 2018 as a physiotherapist, moving into the club’s Head of Performance Health.
Kimberley Wells joins the club as Team Doctor, with Guy Little continuing in his role as the Brumbies Performance Psychologist.
Long-time physio Dave Wellington moves into the Head of Physiotherapy in 2022, with Ryan Clayton also stepping up as Head of Athletic Performance.
Clayton is supported by new Strength and Conditioning coach, Thomas Stebbing and Performance Data Manager, Nic Tanner, with Mitch Ward and Liam Slater working with Wellington as Team Physio and Rehabilitation coach respectively.
Michelle Minehan, a senior lecturer at the University of Canberra, joins as the club’s Dietician with Robin Duff adding valuable contribution to player welfare as the Brumbies RUPA appointed Player Development Manager.
Stuart Manton will assist Head Performance Analyst Matt Watkins, who comes in after nine years at Bath, with Rian Murphy continuing as Team Media Manager.
Daniel Hooper pivots into a new role as the Head of Elite Pathways and Player Development, working alongside experienced Strength and Conditioning coach Tristan Sharp who arrives at the club after leading the athletic performance program for the Wallaroo’s at last year’s Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Dan and Tristan will lead the alignment of the Brumbies Academy and Pathways Teams and will supported by the Head of Pathways, Andy Clark, along with ex-Brumby and new Academy and Pathways Forwards Coach, John Ulugia.
Tony Abel commences a new position within the organisation as the Brumbies Super W and Pathways Operations Manager and will support Thomson and Super W Head Coach Scott Fava in coordinating the delivery of this year’s program. Abel will also lead the delivery of the community pathways teams, the ACT Griffins, and Kestrels later in the year.
ACT Brumbies General Manager Professional Rugby and Pathways, Chris Thomson said: “We’re pleased to assemble an exciting and experienced High-Performance team that will work to give our players the tools to be at their best in Super Rugby this season.”
“Though there’s change in the group, many of the additions have spent time in our environment in the past, or have shared experience at different clubs, and with Steve (Larkham) coming in as head coach, we have looked to build on the really solid foundation that exists at the club.”
Coaching:
Stephen Larkham - Head Coach
Rod Seib - Assistant Coach (Attack)
Laurie Fisher - Assistant Coach (Defence)
Dan Palmer - Assistant Coach (Set Piece)
Damien Hill - Kicking Coach
Matt Watkins - Head Performance Analyst
Stuart Manton - Assistant Performance Analyst
Athletic Performance:
Ryan Clayton - Head of Athletic Performance
Thomas Stebbing - Strength & Conditioning Coach
Nick Tanner - Performance Data Manager
Performance Health:
Byron Field - Head of Performance Health
Dave Wellington - Head of Physiotherapy
Mitch Ward - Team Physiotherapist
Liam Slater - Rehabilitation Coach
Kimberley Wells - Team Doctor
Guy Little - Performance Psychologist
Michelle Minehan – Performance Dietician
Management:
Chris Thomson – General Manager Professional Rugby & Pathways
Bill Swain - Team Manager
Mal Daisley – Assistant Team Manager
Gary Quinlivan - Assistant Logistics Manager
Robin Duff - Player Development Manager
Rian Murphy – Media Manager
Tony Abel – Super W and Pathways Operations Manager
Scott Fava – Head Coach
Mick Burrows – Assistant Coach
Tim Cornforth – Assistant Coach
Ryan Connell – Head S&C
Alice Mae – Head Physio
Karen Bisley – Super W and Pathways Team Doctor
Dan Hooper - Head of Elite Pathways and Player Development
Tristan Sharp – Academy & Pathways Head S&C
Andy Clark – Head of Pathways
John Ulugia – Academy & Pathways Forwards Coach
Mitch Ward – Academy & Pathways Head Physio
Joey Humphries – Academy & Pathways Assistant Physio
Keishav Muralietharan – Junior Academy Physio
