Director of Rugby & Head Coach

Position Details: Director of Rugby & Head Coach at Manly Rugby Football Club

ROLE PURPOSE

This is not simply a First Grade coaching appointment. The Director of Rugby & Head Coach provides strategic and operational leadership of Manly Rugby's rugby program, delivering immediate First Grade performance improvement while building a sustainable club-wide pathway from junior rugby and Colts through to Grade Rugby. The role is accountable for setting the rugby vision, leading the game model and coaching strategy, developing players and coaches, strengthening recruitment and retention, and preserving the culture, identity and community values of Manly Rugby.

ABOUT MANLY RUGBY

Manly Rugby has a proud and distinguished history in Sydney and Australian Rugby and is recognised as one of Australia's leading community rugby clubs. The Club has a strong legacy of success, player development and community engagement. It has produced elite players, coaches and administrators whilst maintaining a culture built on pride, accountability, tradition and connection to the local community.

• Consistently compete for Shute Shield premierships.

• Build a leading Colts-to-Grade pathway.

• Develop future players, coaches and rugby leaders.

• Strengthen the club's culture and identity.

• Compete for Club Championships.

• Become a destination club for elite rugby talent.

• Build a sustainable rugby program capable of long-term success

CLUB AMBITION

• Consistently compete for Shute Shield premierships and Club Championships.
• Build a leading Colts-to-Grade pathway and increase the number of club-developed First Grade players.
• Develop future players, coaches and rugby leaders.
• Become a destination club for elite and aspiring rugby talent.
• Strengthen Manly Rugby's culture, identity, alumni connection and community presence.

ROLE SCOPE AND KEY RELATIONSHIPS

• Provide leadership to First Grade, Grade Rugby, Colts pathway integration and alignment with the Women's program through the relevant coaching groups.
• Coordinate assistant coaches, team managers, S&C, medical, video analysis and other performance support staff through a clear operating structure.
• Work closely with the President, Rugby Committee, Board, General Manager, Academy/Pathway leads, junior clubs, sponsors, alumni, volunteers and relevant rugby bodies.
• Ensure the rugby program balances elite performance expectations with the traditions, inclusiveness and community values of Manly Rugby.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

1. Elite Rugby Performance and Game Model

• Lead the First Grade program with the objective of becoming a consistent finals contender and genuine Shute Shield premiership threat.
• Design, implement and continually refine Manly Rugby's game model, playing style and performance standards.
• Lead weekly preparation, selection, game planning, match review and individual player feedback processes.
• Use performance metrics, video analysis and coaching review to drive measurable improvement across First Grade and the wider Grade program.

2. Whole-of-Program Leadership

• Create a unified rugby philosophy across Grade, Colts and Women's program alignment, with clear standards for preparation, behaviour and performance.
• Coordinate player movement, training alignment and pathway opportunities across the club so players understand their development route.
• Build sustainable structures that support long-term success rather than short-term First Grade performance only.
• Develop a three-year rugby strategy covering performance, recruitment, player development, coaching depth and operational standards.

3. Talent Identification, Recruitment and Retention

• Develop and execute a recruitment and retention strategy aligned to the club's values, list needs, player points position and budget/resources.
• Build and maintain strong networks across Shute Shield, Super Rugby, Academy, country, school, junior and international pathways.
• Position Manly Rugby as a destination club for aspiring professional players and quality community rugby contributors.
• Manage succession planning for key playing positions and increase retention from Colts into Grade Rugby.

4. Player Development and Pathways

• Oversee individual development plans for priority First Grade, Grade and pathway players.
• Work with Colts and junior stakeholders to improve transition into Grade Rugby and increase opportunities for local players.
• Work with women’s program to develop clear progression pathways for emerging players.
• Develop future representative-level players through targeted coaching, mentoring and appropriate exposure to higher standards.
• Ensure development players have clear expectations, feedback and access to additional skill or positional work where appropriate.

5. Coaching and Staff Leadership

• Recruit, mentor and develop assistant coaches and support staff across the rugby program.
• Run regular coaching forums, review sessions and development conversations to build coaching capability and alignment.
• Establish a coaching framework covering language, game model, training design, selection principles, review process and player feedback.
• Create coaching succession planning and depth throughout the club.

6. Team Operations, Communication and Compliance

• Through the General Manager and team manager structure, ensure training equipment, water, support operations, session timings and location changes are communicated early and executed reliably.
• Ensure First Grade and relevant squad members meet Rugby Xplorer registration, player card, integrity, clearance, accreditation, safeguarding and eligibility requirements before selection.
• Oversee accurate player points information and ensure managers have clear processes for FuseSport, NSWRU and STAN requirements, including weekly team lists, deadlines, match-day updates and post-match score submission.
• Set clear match-day operating standards for bench management, substitution process, technical zone discipline, team sheets, radios, hydration/nutrition, jerseys/shorts and equipment accountability.
• Ensure coaches, managers and support staff understand who owns each match-day and training operation, with escalation points for issues that affect performance or compliance.

7. High Performance Support and Player Welfare

• Align S&C, medical, rehabilitation, player welfare and video analysis functions to the rugby program's performance priorities.
• Ensure training loads, return-to-play decisions and player availability information are communicated effectively across coaches and support staff.
• Promote a disciplined, safe and professional environment consistent with Rugby Australia, NSWRU, SRU and club requirements.
• Use video, data and feedback to support game planning, individual development and coaching accountability.

8. Culture, Community and Brand

• Promote and strengthen the values, traditions and identity of Manly Rugby.
• Foster pride in representing the club and build standards that connect current players with alumni, Life Members, volunteers, sponsors and supporters.
• Represent the club professionally in public, media, sponsor and stakeholder interactions.
• Support community engagement initiatives and help build a united club environment across players, coaches, families and supporters.

9. Administration and Other Duties

Complete reasonable administration connected to leading the rugby program, including planning, reviews, reports, communications and stakeholder updates.

Support judiciary/citing matters from a rugby perspective where required, including footage review and liaison with relevant staff.

Perform other reasonable duties as directed by the Rugby Committee, Board or authorised club representative.

ESSENTIAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Rugby leadership: Proven success coaching at Shute Shield, Hospital Cup or equivalent premier club level, with demonstrated ability to build winning teams and improve performance.

Technical and tactical expertise: Strong contemporary rugby knowledge, game planning capability, training design and match review experience.

Program management: Ability to plan, implement and review annual rugby programs across multiple teams, balancing immediate results with sustainable development.

Recruitment and retention: Proven ability to identify, recruit, retain and develop elite and emerging talent within points, budget and culture constraints.

People leadership: Outstanding communication, mentoring and relationship skills with players, coaches, staff, volunteers, sponsors and community stakeholders.

Compliance and welfare: Current Smart Rugby compliance or willingness to obtain; Rugby Australia Level 3 accreditation or equivalent; strong understanding of player welfare and safeguarding obligations.

HIGHLY DESIRABLE

• Previous Director of Rugby and/or Head Coach experience at Shute Shield level or equivalent or above.
• World Rugby Level 3 or 4 Coaching Accreditation, or equivalent recognised qualification.
• Strong understanding of the Shute Shield player points system, community rugby governance and competition compliance.
• Experience leading integrated Colts and Grade programs and working with Australian rugby pathways.
• Experience managing elite player contracts, budgets, salary caps or equivalent high-performance resourcing constraints.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Ambitious, accountable and resilient.
• Authentic, values-based and relationship-focused.
• A strong mentor and developer of players, coaches and staff.
• Innovative and forward-thinking while respecting rugby traditions.
• Comfortable engaging with former players, Life Members, sponsors, volunteers and the broader Manly community.

APPLICANTS

Applications should include: cover letter addressing the selection criteria; rugby coaching resume/CV; details of coaching achievements and program leadership experience; and contact details for at least two rugbyrelated referees.

Applications close Friday 31 July 2026

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CC [email protected] (Tim Herbert)

Confidential discussion Matt Curll - 0419 653 192