Nick Easter will be coaching in the Premiership next season
Rugby NewsThursday, 23 July 2020 at 13:01
Former England international Nick Easter will be coaching in the Gallagher Premiership next season, joining up with Newcastle Falcons as their new defence coach.
The 41-year-old won 54 England caps between 2007 and 2015, playing in three Rugby World Cups and making 281 appearances for Harlequins.
Spending two seasons as defence guru with the London club following his retirement as a player in 2016, Easter has been in Durban for the past two seasons, helping Natal Sharks win the 2018 Currie Cup final, as well as serving as forwards and defence coach for the Sharks in Super Rugby.
Newcastle Falcons director of rugby Dean Richards welcomed news of Easter’s imminent arrival on Tyneside, saying: “He has a good few years coaching experience under his belt at a high level, and will add a lot to our group.
“I worked with Nick at Harlequins during his playing career, and he’s a great character who really understands the game. He has since gone on and broadened his coaching horizons in South Africa, and will bring a fresh pair of eyes at a really important time for the club.
“I’m really excited about what Nick can bring as we embark on our preparation for the 2020/21 Premiership season, and it’s an exciting time for the club.”
JOIN THE RUCK
Delighted to have agreed his move to Kingston Park, Easter said: “It’s great to have the opportunity to coach back in the Premiership – especially working with a guy like Dean and at a club like Newcastle.
“I have a great relationship with Dean having played under him at Harlequins, and he’s doing great work up there with a couple of promotions and a top-four Premiership finish. It’s a club on the rise, I and I want to play my part.
“I’ve had a great experience in South Africa over the last few years, and learned a lot from being involved in Super Rugby. I’ll now be looking to take that and grow it further in working with an outstanding group of coaches and players at the Falcons, and it’s an exciting prospect.”
Nick Easter names his Dream Team
England and Harlequins legend Nick Easter has revealed his all-time Dream Team of players he's played with for The Rugby Paper.
1. Tim Payne – Everyone needs a drinking buddy in the team with them. After long training sessions Tim will keep the banter going. Exactly what you need for team cohesion.
2. Tani Fuga – We played together for a long time at Quins and always seemed to be on the same wavelength. He would run great lines and was great to play alongside.
3. Mike Ross – You need to have someone in the team to laugh at and Mike fits the bill. He aslo did a very good job at Quins to force his way into the Ireland reckoning.
4. Simon Shaw – A one-man maul-wrecking machine. It’s incredible to think he’s still going strong and he has great skills for a big man.
5. Victor Matfield – Every time I played against him he ruled the airwaves, never more so than in the World Cup final in 2007. We just couldn’t get the ball off him. He was also a real athlete, especially in his younger days.
6. Juan Smith – Absolutely outstanding for South Africa, especially at the 2007 World Cup, and even in what was a great team, he was the one who was most missed if he was injured.
7. Steffon Armitage – He gave us more problems than anyone else over the ball. I remember the Premiership semi-final in 2009 where we just couldn’t stop him. Also not bad with ball in hand.
8. Imanol Harinordoquy – Not someone who you think ‘watch out’ but he’s involved so much for France. He’s great in the lineout and is always in the right place at the right time, that’s not by luck.
9. Fourie du Preez – It’s difficult to leave out Danny Care but du Preez ran the show when South Africa won the World Cup. He’s got incredible pace and his decision- making is outstanding.
10. Nick Evans – I can’t leave him out after all he’s done at Harlequins. One of the few players who has come up to the Northern Hemisphere and improved. His kicking is brilliant and he’s still got his pace as well.
11. James O’Connor – I don’t have a great deal of kicking in my backline so I’ll stick O’Connor on the wing. He has an unbelievable ability to get himself out of trouble.
12. Seilala Mapusua – He had an incredible offload and made lots of space for his teammates when at London Irish. He also packed quite a punch for a small guy.
13. Mathieu Bastareaud – He’s a big man and very difficult to stop when he gets going. He has some incredible skills as well and was brilliant in 2010 for France when they won the Grand Slam.
14. Sailosi Tagicakibau – The player at London Irish we have to pay the most attention to, he is outstanding on the wing and is so good at beating his man.
15. Jason Robinson – He could create something out of nothing and is a great guy as well. He never made a mistake which was because he was a total pro. He really had that X factor.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading
