Rugby Canada Coaching News – April 2022

Sean White Named Assistant Coach of Men’s Seven’s Team

In the “about time” department, a Canadian player and coach has been named to the senior men’s coaching team. It’s as assistant coach but hopefully it’s just a matter of time before he takes over the top job in sevens. Next step will be to name an assistant XVs coach to take over Kingsley’s job when he leaves.

It would have been madness for Rugby Canada to continue to bring in “international expertise” when the current men’s programs are at an all time low under existing “international expertise”. Hopefully the board finally got the memo, and the statement that they considered “technical and cultural” factors is a sign the light bulb finally went on.

Congratulations to Sean and congratulations to Rugby Canada, it’s taken you a while but there’s hope you finally got the message.

from Rugby Canada

SEAN WHITE APPOINTED ASSISTANT COACH OF CANADA’S SENIOR MEN’S SEVENS TEAM

Rugby Canada is delighted to announce the appointment of Sean White as Assistant Coach of Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens team.

April 12, 2022 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada is delighted to announce the appointment of Sean White as Assistant Coach of Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens team.

White, who is from Victoria, BC, will start in the role effective immediately and will join up with the team in Vancouver on Tuesday, on the eve of the HSBC Canada Sevens this weekend (April 16-17). Click here to buy tickets now.

Having received applications from many outstanding international candidates, White was selected for the position after making the hiring committee’s five-strong shortlist.

His primary role will be to assist Head Coach Henry Paul in the team’s daily training environment and develop the next generation of Canadian sevens players in conjunction with Phil Mack and Canada’s men’s development academy.

White enjoyed an esteemed playing career having been capped 32 times for Canada’s Men’s 15s, including at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, as well as 27 times for Canada’s Men’s Sevens team. He competed at two PanAm Games – winning Gold at both – and two Commonwealth Games.

More recently, White has been the Head Coach of BC Rugby’s Men’s NextGen Sevens team for the past four years, and the Head Coach of the James Bay Athletic Association’s Men’s team for the past three.

“I’m truly humbled and honored to have been chosen for this coaching appointment with Canada’s Senior Men’s Sevens team,” commented White. “I look forward to connecting with the group in Vancouver and hitting the ground running. This young, core group of players has limitless potential. I’m excited to support their long-term development as individuals and I cherish the opportunity to prepare these players with the tools necessary to succeed on the world stage.”

“We’re absolutely thrilled to give this opportunity to an extremely talented Canadian coach in Sean,” said Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Sevens team, Henry Paul. “Having worked closely with Kingsley [Jones] throughout this process, we were impressed with the caliber of the coaches that applied and that were interviewed.

“Despite receiving strong interest from several very experienced international coaches, we felt Sean was the outstanding candidate, both for the position technically and culturally. Add this to Sean’s extensive experience in international rugby, both in 15s and Sevens, we are certain he is the right man for the job.”

Posted in Coaching, National Men's 7s.