With the appointment of Shane Arnold to the St.George Queensland Reds’ coaching staff for 2017, GPS Rugby club have announced former Queensland Reds prop Anthony Mathison as head coach of the Gallopers for the BLK Queensland Premier Rugby season.
GPS had previously announced that Arnold would be returning to the head coach role at GPS next season, having last been involved at the club in 2014, however Mathison will now take the reins with Arnold named as one of Nick Stiles’ assistants for the 2017 Super Rugby season.
Arnold’s time at GPS as head coach saw him take the side to the 2013 grand final and the 2014 preliminary final.
Arnold has also assisted Souths over the last two seasons, including their 2015 Hospital Cup win, and has been part of the McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City coaching staff for the past three seasons of the Buildcorp National Rugby Championship.
When Arnold was working at GPS, he was influential in the development Reds and Wallabies centre Samu Kerevi.
“Shane and I have a long history together coming from our time together at GPS,” Kerevi said.
“In the background I’ve asked him to help me work on my kicking, my passing and other things. I think he brings an exciting style of play to the attack for next year, especially with Quade coming back who will control our tempo. With Shane here I think we can play an attacking style of Rugby and it’s exciting.”
While Arnold heads to Ballymore, Mathison will return to the club where he played all of his club Rugby, from the 1990s as a junior through to an eight-year Premier Rugby career as a front rower.
Having launched his career at Yoku Road, Mathison went on to represent Queensland and Australia at every level, from schools through to a career highlight European tour with the Wallabies in 2004.
His playing career led him to coaching which began back at GPS, assisting with the Premier Colts and Premier Grade sides before stints with the University of Queensland and Brothers.
At a representative level, Mathison has been involved as an assistant coach with Queensland and Australian U20s programs, as well as Bond University Queensland Country and McInnes Wilson Lawyers Brisbane City.
Having assisted Brothers to the 2016 Premier Rugby title, Mathison coached against GPS and has identified the talent and potential of the Gallopers’ squad.
“Having been involved with Brothers last season, I am acutely aware of the potential in the GPS squad that I am taking on, as they defeated us both times during the season,” he said.
“With almost all of last year’s team remaining, some new recruits and some quality players graduating from the colts, I am confident of a very strong showing from GPS in 2017.”
