'Will be highly valuable': Wallabies add ex-All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly to coaching team
Updated . First published at
The Wallabies have signed former All Blacks lock Tom Donnelly as an assistant coach.
The 43-year-old, who played 15 Tests for New Zealand in 2009-10, will replace Geoff Parling in Joe Schmidt's coaching team after the British and Irish Lions series to prepare Australia for the Rugby Championship.
Former England and Lions lock Parling, who is responsible for the Wallabies lineout, will take the reins of the Leicester Tigers after Saturday's third and final Test at Sydney's Accor Stadium.
Watch all the action from the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour of Australia on Stan Sport, the only place to watch every match live and on demand
Tom Donnelly of the All Blacks takes the ball in the lineout in Wellington. Getty
Donnelly worked as an assistant coach for the Western Force this year.
His appointment will raise questions over Australia's coaching pathways.
He is the third New Zealander on the current coaching ticket, along with Schmidt and scrum doctor Mike Cron.
READ MORE: Player ratings: Moment game shifted, youngster 'overawed'
READ MORE: 'Watch the footage': Image that infuriated Wallabies coach
READ MORE: 'Grieve for a bit': Hooper's advice after Wallabies defeat
Tony Woodcock, Andrew Hore and Tom Donnelly hold the Bledisloe Cup in Wellington. Getty
Laurie Fisher provides an Australian voice as an assistant coach while Ireland's Eoin Toolan is the team's lead analyst.
"I'm honoured to have an opportunity to help contribute to the Wallabies and to work alongside Joe and the wider coaching staff and management," Donnelly said.
"Watching from afar, the journey the team is on and the improvement they are making is exciting. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team."
Assistant coach Tom Donnelly of the Force. Getty
Donnelly played for and helped coach the Highlanders before moving to Perth.
The Force had arguably the best lineout in Super Rugby Pacific this year with Jeremy Williams and Darcy Swain both standing out.
"Tom has spent the best part of the last 25 years involved in professional rugby and his expertise around the lineout and set piece will be highly valuable for the Wallabies," Rugby Australia's director of high performance Peter Horne said.
"He's got a great understanding of the current Super Rugby Pacific landscape as well as experience playing at the highest level which makes him a great fit for the role."
Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss will replace Schmidt at the Wallabies helm after next year's Super Rugby season.
The Wallabies have a daunting start to the Rugby Championship against the world champion Springboks at their Ellis Park fortress on August 17 (AEST).
