England Rugby has appointed Andrew Strawbridge as an assistant coach and coaching advisor for their summer tour of Japan and New Zealand.. The 59-year-old New Zealander has been given a permanent role after coming in as a skills consultant in January. Strawbridge previously worked with the All Blacks as a skills consultant, where he helped them reach the final of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He has coached at North Harbour and Auckland, worked with New Zealand’s successful under-20s team, and spent several years with Waikato.
Head coach Steve Borthwick believes that Strawbridge’s extensive coaching experience in Super Rugby and in the international arena, as well as his expertise in player development, make him an excellent addition to the existing coaching group.. Strawbridge has already spent time with the England team during the first four weeks of their Six Nations campaign and was impressed with their desire to grow and compete.
The addition of Strawbridge to the coaching team is expected to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to help England achieve their goals. The team has been working hard to improve and build on their recent performances, and Strawbridge’s appointment is seen as a positive step towards achieving this.