When NSW Country lands in Orange to take on Brisbane City at Endeavour Oval later this year, it’s set to be a very familiar Eagles squad to the one that was supposed to play Perth in 2016.
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Well, that’s if the franchise’s confirmation of its 2017 skipper and coaching staff is anything to go by.
On Monday afternoon the Eagles confirmed Warringah Rats mentor Darren Coleman as coach and Tamworth-born Waratahs prop Paddy Ryan as captain, both have retained their respective roles from last year’s National Rugby Championship (NRC) campaign.
Outside those two, it will be a largely untouched group pulling the Eagles’ strings, the franchise’s only significant change is the appointment of new general manager Andrew Blades.
The former Wallaby will also assist Coleman as forwards coach, while Shannon Fraser has been named as the side’s defensive coach and Scottish international Dan Parks will look after the attacking side of things.
There’s no surprise the franchise hasn’t changed much, considering the Eagles finished runners-up in last year’s third edition of the NRC. NSW Country was narrowly beaten by the Perth Spirit in the decider.
A passionate advocate of country rugby, Ryan said he’s stoked to be named as skipper again and said he’s over the moon his side will return to Orange.
Last year’s torrential winter forced the Eagles’ clash with Perth to moved from Orange back to Sydney.
“I think it’s really important just to give back to the country rugby community as a whole,” Ryan told the Armidale Express.
“I think [the country is] a real force in the rugby community in general.”
The Eagles play Brisbane City in Orange in October.
Matt Findlay
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
Formerly a sports specialist, I'm based at Orange and shift between wide-spread range of subjects here and, often, across the entire Central West region of NSW as well. I have almost a decade of experience in the media and marketing industries both here in Australia and internationally, along with journalism I have experience in content strategy, brand development, and digital and social media. Along the way, I've been fortunate to win a handful of media awards and be nominated for several others too.
