The Silverdale Rugby Club has announced its new coaching line up for the PREMIER team for the 2025 season.

The completely new coaching team includes some of Silverdale’s favourite sons who have played large roles in the growth of the Club in years gone by.

Head coach is club Centurian Rob Colhoun who is taking the reins as Premier coach for the first time. He has gathered an impressive trio of assistant coaches in Matt Cardey, Daniel (Doc) O’Connor and Sam Ward.

Colhoun, Cardey and O’Connor have all had lengthy club careers at Silverdale in their playing days.

Colhoun and Cardey were both selected for the North Harbour NPC team, before embarking on professional rugby careers in the United Kingdom. Cardey went one step further, playing international test rugby at fullback for Wales during the Sir Graeme Henry era.

Since retiring, Colhoun and Cardey have been honing their coaching skills at age group level at school, club and representative level, while O’Connor has built up an impressive CV at Premier level.

However, it was an unexpected surprise when Colhoun announced the 4^th member of his coaching staff as experienced NPC coach Sam Ward. Ward brings extensive acumen and knowledge having coached the BRAVE LUPUS in the top Japanese league, and North Harbour in the NPC. A self confessed advocate of scrum dominance, Silverdale’s forward pack in 2025 can look forward to a decent education in scrummaging.

While it’s currently supposed to be the off season , the coaching team is busy in preparation for next season, including talking to existing and potential players for what should be an exciting 2025 season under the new regime. A pre Xmas programme of conditioning games and skills is starting “with a bang” on Guy Fawkes night , 6.30pm Tuesday 5^th November. The weekly seasons will run every Tuesday evening at 6.30pm through until 10^th December, and all potential players from all Senior grades are invited to participate.

Pictured below :

Backs coach Matt Cardey (left), Head coach Rob Colhoun (centre) and Forwards coach Sam Ward (right). Daniel O’Connor absent overseas

Article added: Wednesday 09 October 2024