Always a Wasp
General Category => Wasps Rugby Discussion => Topic started by: baldpaul101 on April 09, 2020, 12:30:34 PM
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just up on the offy
Wasps can confirm that current interim Head Coach, Lee Blackett, has been appointed as the club’s full-time Head Coach.
Blackett stepped up from his role as Attack & Backs Coach to take the first team reins in mid-February and his impact was immediate, overseeing 3 wins from 4 games which helped propel the club back into contention for a top-four finish.
Joining Blackett as part of a new-look coaching team are Pete Atkinson and Richard Blaze.
Atkinson will become Head of Performance after the conclusion of his contract with the Italian Rugby Union. He has vast experience across a number of sports following highly successful spells with both Saracens and Leicester Tigers, as well as working at the English Institute of Sport and the ECB as their National Lead for Strength & Conditioning.
Currently, at the RFU working with the England Women’s rugby team, Blaze will take up the role of Forwards Coach. Blaze joined England Rugby as part of the coach development agreement in November 2017, working with the England U20 team. He previously worked as Forwards Coach at Leicester Tigers, winning the Premiership title in 2012/13, having played for the club from 2007-10.
It has also been confirmed that current Forwards Coach Andy Titterrell will be leaving the club.
“The last few months have been fantastic, and I can’t thank the coaches, players, staff and supporters enough for the support they’ve given me. I’m really excited to have the chance to work with Pete and Richard as we prepare to get the team back playing again and hopefully deliver the success this club deserves.
“I’d also like to place on record my thanks to Andy for his time at Wasps. He’s a very popular member of the group and we wish him well in his next venture,” said Blackett.
Stephen Vaughan, Wasps Chief Executive, commented, “Since taking over as interim Head Coach in February, Lee’s impact has been extremely positive. The results on the pitch speak for themselves and he fully deserves the opportunity to lead the group. He is very driven, has good rugby intellect and is relishing working with the talented group we have. Lee sees growth in the squad, and we’re excited about the new additions to support him and how they will work together.
“Pete and Richard bring a wealth of experience with them, and their pedigree at elite level sport is unquestionable.
“We believe this new structure, which removes the need for a Director of Rugby, is the best fit for the club. I am confident that we have the right leadership team in place to take us forward and start the next chapter of our history.”
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with no DoR, assume Vaughn takes on some of that responsibility?
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Interesting developments. A bit sorry to see Titters go but all sounds a bit positive. Must admit I expected a DoR appointment.
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with no DoR, assume Vaughn takes on some of that responsibility?
Maybe, maybe not.
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I think as long as Lee can focus on the rugby side and doesn't get too drawn in by the DOR side of things, I'd expect that to be a good thing?
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Wonder where "Head of Performance" sits in the hierarchy - does that mean he is in charge of the Analysts, or a more overall role?
Sorry to see Titterall go, hope the new guy allows the forwards to continue, and improve on, the expansive role we have become used to seeing.
Assume that Costello is still defence coach.
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Given his history, I'd guess head of performance is strength and conditioning related, given Baugh will be leaving.
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I'm a little underwhelmed by that. But I guess it gives the club the opportunity to spend more time looking for a DOR without any uncertainty floating around.
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Given his history, I'd guess head of performance is strength and conditioning related, given Baugh will be leaving.
This. I took this to be a direct replacement.
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Agree, bit underwhelming.
Saddened we still only have one forwards coach, and Titterrell is one hell of a forwards coach to lose.
Glad Blackett is staying, but risky not having more experience.
On the whole I wouldn't say better I'd say different. No clear improvement in management from first impressions, but we'll have to wait for results to judge them properly.
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I'll add it's interesting Vaughan has pushed this structure doesn't need a DOR implying we won't be getting one in the future. Unless Blackett is on a contract that's only one season.... Not gonna lie I'm very surprised we haven't seen Howley, Walder or Worsley or even a combination of them taking over. Bit cautious we don't do a Leicester and leave someone in charge who may not have the experience to take us to the top.
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Definitely a bit underwhelmed.
Dai talked about the small coaching team, which seemingly the board agreed with but now we seem to be getting smaller.
Pendlebury’s role in the academy was taken up by Kevin Harman who I believe is also still doing the team management job and recruitment for the first team, could be wrong on that one though.
Atkinson replaces Baugh but does Blaze replace Dai’s role with the forwards or Titteral’s?
Not sure if he did anything of note at Leicester but this was when they did a lot of recruiting from within I think and it didn’t work out for them.
So Costello stays??
So who now does the Dai jobs? Vaughan? And what role does a head coach have, will he still have time for being backs coach - does Jimmy get phased in?
Not quite the all star list people were hoping for and I would have liked us to get a bit of old school wasps in there.
Worried now we don’t have a front row specialist in there at all and the team is getting smaller and possibly less experienced.
Also this does sound a bit like a money saving task. If we still had Dai on his money and were then trying for Edwards or Borthwick on big money, our team of Blackett, Blaze, Costello and Everard are at a mere fraction of that price.
Hoping for more to come, Jimmy to assist with the backs possibly and a scrum coach
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Supporters across most team sports tend to clamour for former favourite players to be appointed in these scenarios though rarely do such appointments bring the desired results.
Personally I'm glad a young coach is being given a chance, they have to start somewhere, and we haven't just gone for a "name" on silly money. Blackett's trial period was limited but I think we all could see an improvement in playing fortunes. Player recruitment is the unknown area - who is to take the calls from agents touting their players?
Anyway Lee has my full support for whenever the game restarts.
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Good, congratulations Lee.
He has done well for Wasps over the years, not just the most recent 3 matches, so well done. From a practical standpoint he is incumbent so less potential for disruption.
It might not work out, but I don't see it as less likely to work than Worsley or anyone else who has been touted.
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Knew Blaze’s playing career was cruelty thwarted by injuries but he has done a lot already despite still only being 34.
Stolen from Wikipedia:
Blaze started his coaching career at Leicester Tigers in 2010, as an assistant forwards coach to the first team and Head Coach to seconds Team. Alongside Richard Cockerill, Matt O'Connor and Paul Burke. As a coaching team they went on to win two English Championships, in 2010 season and again in 2013. Tigers also reached Premiership finals in 2011 and 2012,narrowly missing out to Saracens and Harlequins respectively.
In 2011-12 as Head Coach of the seconds team Blaze coached the Tigers to LV Cup Title 2012 LV Cup, which they then repeated in 2017 2016/17. In 2015 Richard was appointed as First Team Forwards coach, under Head coaches Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger.
In 2017 Richard Blaze stood down from his position has 1st Team forwards coach to explore new challenges and was quickly made academy coach for Leicester Tigers and England Under 20s Forward Coach.
As an academy coach Blaze was a part of the coaching team at leicester Tigers that coached the academy to their first championship and are currently the National Academy Champions.
As England Under 20s Forwards Coach Blaze, coached the side though a Under-20 Six Nations and Under-20 Rugby World Cup. Making into the Final of the World Cup, narrowly missing out to France in the final, in France.
Richard Blaze is currently the Forwards and Defence Coach for the England Women's First Team. After completing an successful autumn international period, they had gone on to become grand slam champions of 2019.
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Whilst I certainly can see why people are saying "underwhelmed" if the team can carry on playing with the same attitude as with the last few games - and so make the best of the talent available - then that's fine.
I think all coaching regimes and coaches have limited effective lifetime and change often is a catalyst for improvement. The new coach has the incentive to get results and the players need to impress a new made selecting teams and directly influencing their futures.
I'm pretty content with these appointments - the S&C guy has an impressive track record - and it provides time to see how and if the DofR role should be the same and after consideration - it provides the opportunity to identify who and what, without worrying about the team on the pitch, in the shorter term.
And sometimes you need a bit of luck as well as doing the right thing. And Lee had the upside of injuries improving to set alongside his change of coaching regime. He was able to select a better balanced backrow than many international sides have, a class front row and some good SR's with the grunt required. This has provided the base for good play from a renewed Robson, Umaga prospering under Jimmy's wing and decent options outside.
More than happy with this as the option to take us forwards. Lets hope we keep key players
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I'm far from underwhelmed.
I welcome a different approach to needing the same old well paid 'boss' overseeing what's going on, if what's going on is already working.
Remove the hierarchy and create a team culture from top to bottom. If the last 3 games tell us anything at all, its that we shouldn't be afraid of change and maybe do something a bit different.
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I see this as positive. Incomers have pedigree. Letting Lee concentrate on coaching is a good move IMHO. Someone has to do the DoR things and my guess is it will be vaughan and I am not sorry about that.
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I'm more than happy for Blackett to have a crack at head coach, but I do worry over the lack of an older and wiser head in a DOR role. Also agree that Titterell could be a big loss.
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I see this as positive. Incomers have pedigree. Letting Lee concentrate on coaching is a good move IMHO. Someone has to do the DoR things and my guess is it will be vaughan and I am not sorry about that.
Vaughan said at the supporters forum meetings he met weekly with dai to talk all things on field and off field (recruitment, salary cap etc.), obviously not a dor role but overseeing everything going on in the "business", He also has experience of the dor / coach model at Gloucester which seems to have had its issues.
He has also said at forum meetings his preference is for smaller effective top management groups which is not what he found at Wasps again across the business.
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Knew Blaze’s playing career was cruelty thwarted by injuries but he has done a lot already despite still only being 34.
Stolen from Wikipedia:
Blaze started his coaching career at Leicester Tigers in 2010, as an assistant forwards coach to the first team and Head Coach to seconds Team. Alongside Richard Cockerill, Matt O'Connor and Paul Burke. As a coaching team they went on to win two English Championships, in 2010 season and again in 2013. Tigers also reached Premiership finals in 2011 and 2012,narrowly missing out to Saracens and Harlequins respectively.
In 2011-12 as Head Coach of the seconds team Blaze coached the Tigers to LV Cup Title 2012 LV Cup, which they then repeated in 2017 2016/17. In 2015 Richard was appointed as First Team Forwards coach, under Head coaches Richard Cockerill and Aaron Mauger.
In 2017 Richard Blaze stood down from his position has 1st Team forwards coach to explore new challenges and was quickly made academy coach for Leicester Tigers and England Under 20s Forward Coach.
As an academy coach Blaze was a part of the coaching team at leicester Tigers that coached the academy to their first championship and are currently the National Academy Champions.
As England Under 20s Forwards Coach Blaze, coached the side though a Under-20 Six Nations and Under-20 Rugby World Cup. Making into the Final of the World Cup, narrowly missing out to France in the final, in France.
Richard Blaze is currently the Forwards and Defence Coach for the England Women's First Team. After completing an successful autumn international period, they had gone on to become grand slam champions of 2019.
IMO thats a very solid CV for a young coach.
I read the announcement as Titterell already having a place to go, anyone else?
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All you need to know about Richard Blaze and Pete Atkinson
Report from Adam Dickinson and Bobby Bridge:
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-richard-blaze-18069716 (https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-richard-blaze-18069716)
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Not disappointed with those announcements. The whole aura within the club has lifted since Dai left and Lee took over. Coincidence? A huge amount to thank Dai for, but in a very short space of time Lee’s approach, coupled with increased player availability, has seen the side leap up the table, playing really eye catching rugby. With the player announcements to follow, next season could be something to really look forward to.
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Steve vaughan explaining the process behind the appointments.
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-lawrence-dallaglio-18070241.amp?__twitter_impression=true
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I understand why most of us thought a new DOR wold be found - but where would we have found one from? 3 new appointments in Wales; just 2 in Scotland; 4 in Ireland - is there an Irishman as DOR there. And then we look at the Southern Hemisphere - the good guys have stayed were they were and there isn't anyone in Oz or S Africa that might be ready.
I assume they have looked at what the market for top coaches is like and decided to stick with Blackett - and he & his new team have been given the chance to prove themselves.
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I'm happy with this. There was no guarantee a "name" was going to work and Blackett has been a breath of fresh air. I don't think it's a financial decision but the cash will be welcome. For me Youngs recruitment was phenomenal and it may be that which we miss - assuming he was doing the picking. If we can keep this squad together it's a top 4 outfit for me. In the last three or four games we were seeing that perfect trio of pieces fitting together - strong set piece, dominant forwards, incisive backs. That was under Blackett - long may it continue.
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Vaughan isn't happy with how the dor + head coach thing has worked at Gloucester i guess.
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Howley must have had his name in the hat.
Great news for Blackett if he has beaten off some more experienced candidates.
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Vaughan isn't happy with how the dor + head coach thing has worked at Gloucester i guess.
The shots of Humphreys and Ackerman when we beat them, spoke volumes.
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Howley must have had his name in the hat.
Great news for Blackett if he has beaten off some more experienced candidates.
Well, Lee has been part of our senior coaching team for the past 5 years. He's not a new boy.
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I'm a little underwhelmed with the people who are underwhelmed, it seems everyone is happy for Wasps to bring through players from the Academy but promoting a Head Coach from within is not good enough!
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Pleased for Lee, it appears like his man-management skills are what have really helped the team of late - albeit he's had reduced pressure with low-expectations and no relegation.
This new structure strikes me as a prudent talent-vs-spend balance. We've gone from having (supposedly) the highest paid DoR in the league, to presumably one of the lowest paid coaching teams.
Given the bond situation, the aims to become self-sufficient and that the underlying businesses that contribute towards off-field revenues are having a compounding effect on finances because of the COVID-19, it seems like a sensible move from Vaughan.
It's also left room to change, as finances improve or someone becomes available to do a DoR type role next year.
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I am not remotely underwhelmed. Relieved really. We can recruit, if needed, with a clear structure, and although it is super early, the initial signs post Dai were there in terms of the freedom we played with and our potency. A few games is not a big audition, but it is where we are. I have probably placed a little bit less emphasis on the coaches than most- for many in various places these past 18 months led to a call for a new coaching set up, for some people involving Dai, others not, whereas I felt that our players were very low on confidence, and the drop off last year was down to slightly uneven recruitment and player quality/experience cf 2017 rather than a clear sign that we needed a big name coach. As such, I am very pleased we have given Lee a shot. Confidence has fed on the W, and a positive feedback loop has left us looking good. I hope we can maintain the approach we have seen thus far.
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I suspect that Lee moving upstairs means that Gleeson is working well. He was certainly a wonderful player in League.
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I agree, if Gleeson is staying I like the sound of that. Similar to how Long us only just clicking for Quins, Gleeson is starting to understand our structure better.
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I am just hoping we (the fans in general, not here specifically) give the new guys time.
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I'm a little underwhelmed with the people who are underwhelmed, it seems everyone is happy for Wasps to bring through players from the Academy but promoting a Head Coach from within is not good enough!
This is fair, I guess I need to explain what I meant a little.
I am not underwhelmed because I don't think Lee has done a good job. Clearly he has and he deserves a shot at a more senior role, and I don't have anything at all against the incoming coaches.
However what this shows pretty clearly is that the club isn't going to be appointing a new DOR any time soon. Anyone coming in to the top dog position would want to have a say in their coaching team, and so appointing a new coaching team essentially means we've put off the appointment for now.
I see this as a reaction to the fact that we simply cannot run the process of selecting and appointing a DOR, and so we will settle for making Lee's appointment official for now, if at a slightly lower level.
The alternative is that we are after a DOR who has no real input nto the coaching. We know the academy is run semi-independently, and we know the recruitment is handled independently. So if the DOR doesn't direct coaching either then they are little more than a motivational speaker.
The first option is settling for as good as we can right now, and the second just feels doomed to failure, hence I'm underwhelmed.
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I'm a little underwhelmed with the people who are underwhelmed, it seems everyone is happy for Wasps to bring through players from the Academy but promoting a Head Coach from within is not good enough!
I see this as a reaction to the fact that we simply cannot run the process of selecting and appointing a DOR, and so we will settle for making Lee's appointment official for now, if at a slightly lower level.
BBs article says there was an extensive process?
https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/rugby/wasps-rugby-news-lawrence-dallaglio-18070241.amp?__twitter_impression=true
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We simply haven't had time to run a proper in depth recruitment process for a top level DOR. But if the decision was taken to simply not bother then I'm more concerned than underwhelmed.