Andy Friend

Andrew Friend (born 24 April 1969) is an Australian rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the Director of Rugby for Irish province Connacht. He was previously head coach of the Australia Sevens team,[1] the Brumbies in Super Rugby,[2] English club Harlequins,[3] and Canon Eagles and Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League.[1][4]

Andy Friend
Full nameAndrew Friend
Date of birth (1969-04-24) 24 April 1969[1]
Place of birthCanberra, ACT
Rugby union career
Position(s) Head Coach of Connacht
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1989–1991 Australian Capital Territory ()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1986–1987 Australian Schoolboys
Coaching career
Years Team
2005–2008
2008–2011
2012–2014
2014–2016
2016–2018
2018–pres.		 Harlequins
Brumbies
Canon Eagles
Suntory Sungoliath
Australia 7s
Connacht

Playing career

Friend was selected in the Australia Schoolboys rugby team for 1986–87 before going on to play provincial rugby for the ACT Kookaburras.[1] His position of choice was full-back.[5]

Club coaching

Friend began his coaching career within an Australian Institute of Sport rugby programme in 1995.[1][6] He held assistant coaching positions at the New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies.[7][8] He was also the Brumbies skills coach under Eddie Jones.[9]

In the summer of 2005, Friend joined English Premiership team Harlequins as head coach.[10][11] Following the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, he signed a three-year contract with the Canberra-based Brumbies side.[3]

He took over from Laurie Fisher as head coach at the Super Rugby club.[12] After completing two full seasons in charge, Friend has his contract terminated in March 2011 following a loss to the Melbourne Rebels and rumours of player discontent.[2] He was the third coach to either be fired or not have their contract renewed by the ACT Brumbies board. After helping out as a trainer for various Canberra high school teams, Friend went to Japan in 2012 and became the head coach at Canon Eagles for two seasons.[1] He was head coach of Suntory Sungoliath from 2014 to 2016.[4]

Friend was appointed as the head coach of Pro14 side Connacht on a three-year deal in May 2018.[13]

Inaugural inductee to University of Canberra Sport Walk of Fame in 2022.[14]

International coaching

Friend guided the Australian Under-21 team to the final of the 2005 World Championships.[15] He worked within the Wallabies setup for the 2002 Tri Nations Series and 2003 Rugby World Cup.[16] He was appointed as head coach of the Australian Sevens team in 2016.[1]

Charity bike ride

Following an accident in 2010 when his wife, Kerri Rawlings, came off her bike and suffered a serious brain injury, Andy Friend undertook a 5000 km journey from Cooktown to Canberra to raise awareness and money for Acquired Brain Injury. This was to support Brain Injury Australia and Outward Bound. The journey was successful, with his wife as part of the support crew, and was completed in late November 2011.[17]

References
  1. "Andy Friend appointed Qantas Australian Men's Sevens coach". ARU. 5 January 2016. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
  2. Brumbies Coach Sacked
  3. "Harlequins' Andy Friend named as Head Coach for ACT Brumbies". Quins. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  4. Andy Friend, nouvel entraîneur-chef de Suntory Sungoliath
  5. "Friend appointed CA Brumbies Head Coach". Brumbies. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 21 July 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  6. "Friend appointed new Brumbies coach". The Sydney Morning Herald. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 31 December 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  7. "Andy Friend new Brumbies coach". Rugby Heaven. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  8. "Super 14: Andy Friend named coach of ACT Brumbies". International Herald Tribune. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  9. "Brumbies to confirm Friend's appointment". Fox Sports. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  10. "Andy Friend". Quins. 17 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  11. "Quins' Friend gets Brumbies role". Guinness Premiership. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  12. "Friend set to boss Brumbies". Sky Sports. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  13. "Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach". Irish Independent. 24 May 2018. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  14. "Walk of Fame Members". University of Canberra. 18 November 2022. Retrieved 18 November 2022.
  15. "Quins lose Friend to ACT Brumbies". BBC. 15 April 2008. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  16. "Friend to leave Quins". Sportinglife. 15 April 2008. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011. Retrieved 17 April 2008.
  17. Bentley, Callum (27 October 2011). "Wife inspires 5000km ride". The Chronicle. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2016.
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