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Former Australia fullback Chris Latham has been appointed Head Coach of the Utah Warriors for the 2020 Major League Rugby season. The announcement comes after much public speculation and a recent shift in the ownership group. Latham takes over from Alf Daniels, who was released in June after leading the Warriors over the past two years.
Latham, 44, began his coaching career while still playing with the Kyuden Voltex in the Japan Top League. He formally retired in 2012 after a 15-year career as a professional player that saw him play in three World Cups with the Wallabies with his career total reaching 78 caps. Also on his ledger are more than 100 Super Rugby appearances with the Queensland Reds along with stints at the Waratahs and Worcester Warriors in the English Premiership.
After leaving Kyuden in 2013, Latham took over as Backs Coach with the NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes. He was subsequently appointed to the same role for Manu Samoa in June 2018, and he accompanied the Samoan team to the World Cup in Japan.
Former player Ben Nicholls, who was an Assistant Coach with the team under Daniels in 2018, was tipped to take over the senior role in 2019 but is reportedly no longer with the team. With Forwards Coach Stevie Scott also moving on, player-coach James Semple is expected to be the only returnee from the coaching staff. According to a formal release from the club, Latham’s supporting cast will be unveiled shortly.
