Richard Graham (rugby union)
| Full name | Richard Graham | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 5 August 1972 | ||
| Place of birth | Charleville, Queensland | ||
| School | Marist College Ashgrove | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Current status | |||
| Position(s) | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Fullback | ||
| Professional / senior clubs | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1991–1993 1994–2002 |
GPS Easts |
||
| Provincial/State sides | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1998–2002 | Reds | 13 | (25) |
| Super Rugby | |||
| Years | Club / team | Caps | (points) |
| 1998–2002 | Reds | 2 | (0) |
| Sevens national teams | |||
| Years | Club / team | Comps | |
| 1998–2002 | Australia | ||
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club / team | ||
| 2014–16 2010–12 2009 |
Queensland Reds Western Force Saracens RFC | ||
Richard Graham (born 5 August 1972) is an Australian rugby union coach and former head coach of the Queensland Reds and Western Force in Super Rugby.
Early life
Graham was born in central western Queensland (Charleville) and grew up playing rugby league. It wasn't until he went to Marist College Ashgrove as a boarding student aged 12 that he began playing rugby union. Former Wallabies Daniel Herbert, Graeme Bond and Pat Howard were part of Graham's 1st XV in 1990.[1] Graham played for the Australian Schoolboys Rugby Union team that toured Europe in 1990/91 with the likes of Matt Burke, Peter Jorgensen, and Scott Bowen. He completed a Bachelor of Education degree at Queensland University of Technology.
Rugby career
Graham played his club rugby for Easts RFC in Brisbane winning the 1999 Brisbane premiership as captain. He played for Queensland Reds and also Australia A in the 15-a-side game. It was as a Rugby 7s player that Graham was best known. He played for and captained the Australian Rugby 7s team between 1998 and 2002. He attended 2 Commonwealth Games in 1998 (Kuala Lumpur) and 2002 (Manchester).[1]
Coaching career
Richard Graham began his professional coaching career with the Bath RFC in the English Premiership under former Wallaby hooker Michael Foley. In his 4 seasons with the club, he also worked under John Connolly (former Wallaby coach) and Brian Ashton (former England coach). Graham then moved to Saracens RFC where he worked under Eddie Jones (former Wallaby coach) before finishing as Head Coach in 2009.[1]
In June 2009 Graham joined Robbie Deans as Skills Coach of the National team.[1] While in this role he also accepted a position of Assistant Coach to former All Blacks coach John Mitchell at the Western Force. When Mitchell unexpectedly joined the Lions in Johannesburg in September 2010 Graham was promoted Head Coach a year earlier than anticipated.[2][3][4][5]
On 16 April 2012 Graham quit as coach of the Western Force to join the Reds.[6]
The Western Force won 7 of 24 matches under his coaching, while the Queensland Reds won 9 out of 32 matches under his coaching resulting in a win percentage of 28% in Super Rugby. After two games in the 2016 Super Rugby season Graham and the Queensland Reds parted ways.[7]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Richard Graham Reds Profile". Archived from the original on 5 February 2014.
- ↑ "Wallabies skills coach Richard Graham appointed next Western Force coach".
- ↑ "Force appoint Richard Graham as 2012 coach".
- ↑ "Force appoint Richard Graham head coach".
- ↑ Warren, Adrian (9 February 2012). "Western Force coach Richard Graham says his forward pack is as strong as any in Super Rugby". Foxsports. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ↑ Pandaram, Jamie (16 April 2012). "Coach Richard Graham has quit the Western Force to take up a postion [sic] with the Queensland Reds". Herald Sun. Retrieved 27 May 2012.
- ↑ Queensland Reds coach Richard Graham sacked after back-to-back losses to start Super Rugby season. Sydney Morning Herald. 7 March 2016
External links
- "Richard Graham Reds Profile". Archived from the original on 5 February 2014.