The future of Queensland Rugby’s elite players is in good hands after the appointment of Tony McGahan and Paul Carozza to the St.George Queensland Reds Academy.
Following today’s announcement of dual-code premiership-winning player Peter Ryan as the Reds new Defence Coach, McGahan will become the Reds Academy Head Coach in a newly created role.
Carozza will remain at Ballymore as the new Reds Academy - Head of Talent Management.
Queensland Rugby Union Interim CEO David Hanham said: “Tony and Paul’sappointments further strengthen the QRU’s strategy to ensure we have the best coaches to surround Brad Thorn, as well as the expertise to identify and develop emerging talent through Queensland’s Pathway programs.
“With more than two decades of elite rugby experience, Tony has an intimate knowledge of our pathway, which is backed by his excellent credentials of developing elite talent in Europe and at Super Rugby level.
“Not only has Paul has successfully developed emerging talent for over 20 years, but he has also been Brad’s assistant coach at the Reds and at Queensland Country.
“The combination of these two coaches heading our Academy at Ballymore will mean that we have one of the most experienced coaching teams of any academy in the Rugby world,” Hanham added.
Upon his new appointment, McGahan said he was excited to focus on the next generation of talent coming through the Queensland Pathway.
“This role is a good opportunity for me to get back to the pathway - where I started my coaching career - as well as to be closer to my family,” said McGahan.
“There is a steady stream of talent flowing through the Queensland pathway and Paul and I look forward to continuing to develop these young players so they are ready, in time, to step up for the Reds.”
Born and raised in Queensland, McGahan’s coaching career began in his home state at the helm of Rugby nurseries Nudgee College and Anglican Church Grammar School’s First XV programs, as well as Queensland Premier Rugby side Easts.
He made the move to Irish powerhouse Munster in 2005 as an assistant coach and was involved in two Heineken Cup wins in 2006 and 2008 before becoming Director of Rugby, during which time he oversaw two Celtic League titles in 2009 and the 2011 season, as well as a famous victory over the touring Wallabies in 2010.
He joined the Wallabies as a coaching co-ordinator in 2012, before taking on the role as Melbourne Rebels head coach ahead of the 2014 season.
He left the role in Melbourne at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season, where he finished as the longest-serving and most successful coach in the club’s history, to take up a position at Ballymore as the Reds Senior Assistant Coach for the 2018 season.
The QRU announced in July that Carozza would be returning to Queensland’s Academy programs following a year as the Reds Assistant Coach.
A former Reds and Wallabies winger with more than 100 games of professional Rugby experience (Queensland: 94 caps, Australia: 15 caps), Carozza has been involved in various coaching roles at Ballymore for the past 15 years.
He has identified and developed countless stars during this time and is regarded as a premier identifier of young Rugby talent in Australia.
