Aussie guru Millard joins Connacht’s backroom

CONNACHT have secured former Australian Sevens coach Billy Millard as their new backs coach on a two-year deal. Millard, who spent two years with Cardiff Blues, joins the province later this month.

Millard led the powerful Sydney University club to back-to-back Premierships in 2005 and 2006, then took the Melbourne Rebels to the Grand Final of the Australian Rugby Championship. During his tenure in Wales, Cardiff Blues reached the knockout phase of the Heineken Cup and lifted both the EDF Energy Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Millard said: “I’m really looking forward to joining Connacht. It is a very exciting time as Connacht head into their first season of Heineken Cup rugby. I look forward to working with Eric Elwood and the rest of the coaching team in helping to develop the squad for the season to come.”