Two generations of the Richards family will take the reigns of the Easts’ Premier Colts program in 2017, with the club’s Director of Rugby Pat and his son Jack teaming up to coach the U19 side.
Every Rugby club has strong family ties and the Richards family are senonous with Easts.
Pat played at the club before coaching the Premier Grade to two Hospital Cup titles in 2008 and 2013, and Jack has been a regular at Tigerland since before he could walk.
In the words of Pat – “Jack pretty much grew up at the place.”
2016 will be Pat’s official return to coaching at Easts having moved into the Director of Rugby role in 2014, while for Jack, who played junior Rugby for the club before progressing through the colts program to play reserve grade, this will be his first senior coaching role at the club.
Jack recently coached the Easts U14s to a premiership and has since worked hard to acquire his level two coaching accreditation in the off season.
Given Jack only recently came through the colts’ system himself, Pat is eager to listen to Jack’s fresh perspective as they work towards developing the colts’ program.
“Jack is very analytical and he has been following his dad on the side lines his entire life so he understands how it works,” Pat said.
“I’m keen to see him coaching older blokes. He’s been running water and messages for premier grade so he has a good rapport with the players.”
As he returns to coaching, Pat will build on 20 years of experience that has seen him coach St. Laurence’s College First XV, Australia Schoolboys A, Queensland Schoolboys and McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City in the National Rugby Championship.
In 2007 he was first appointed to the head coaching role at Tigerland and led the Tigers to a title the following year before claiming the Australian Club Championship in early 2009.
Despite being in charge of the premier grade side at the time, Richards believes the strength of the colts’ program in 2008 led to his premier grade side claiming the title in 2013.
“It’s absolutely vital for the long-term success of the club, because if you have a strong colts program you get a flow-on effect.
“When we won the title in 2008, our premier colts side competed in the grand final that same year. Jack Mullins and that group of players were playing colts and five years later they won the premier grade title.”
Reviewing Easts’ recent performances in colts, Richards believes a lack of consistency has hampered the club’s results.
“We need to be more consistent and broaden our range, rather than focus on the top 15-20 players. The goal of the program at Easts is to get players from premier right down to colts two all on the same page,” he said.
Easts are renowned for having a strong set-piece throughout the club and Richards will spend time focusing on this area of the game.
“A lot of time will be invested in the set piece, it’s been a strong focal point of our program for a while now and that will continue with the colts.”
With the club introducing a new on-site gym ahead of 2017, Easts have so far had a solid cohort of 60-plus players who have completed the first block of pre-season training before Christmas.
Training will reconvene on Tuesday the 10th of January at 6:00pm. Players from all walks of life are encouraged to come down.
“The club will be accepting players from anywhere or from any school, whether they want to come and play socially or want to take it seriously we will cater for them,” Richards said.
“As I step into a coaching role again, I have a high expectation and we’ll be able to provide them with a good playing environment. It will benefit them as they look to take the next step in their Rugby pathway.”
For any enquiries about playing at Easts, please contact Pat Richards at rugbydirector@easttigers.com.
