Connacht turn to Friend in need

If the words of praise from Rugby Australia which greeted Andy Friend’s departure as their men’s sevens head coach ring true during his next venture as Connacht boss, then the Westerners really will have made a serious appointment.

Friend, 49, was yesterday unveiled as the man to pick Connacht up by the bootstraps and help them unleash the potential which was last realised in May 2016 when Pat Lam’s team upset the odds and won the Guinness PRO12 title.

The Australian has had a professional coaching career spanning 23 years, taking in head coaching roles at the Brumbies in his hometown of Canberra, Harlequins, and two Japanese clubs, as well as assistant roles with the Wallabies under Eddie Jones.