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US Eagles scrumhalf Shaun Davies has joined the coaching staff for the Utah Warriors. It’s not clear yet if the Rugby World Cup has signaled the end of the 30-year-old’s playing career with the official statement from the club simply reading that he is “ready to begin the next phase of his rugby career.”
Davies joins the Warriors after captaining the Glendale Raptors for the past two Major League Rugby seasons. He won 27 caps after making his test debut against Georgia in 2012. Originally from South Africa, Davies has a local connection having won two national championships will playing with BYU. He has previously acted as a player-coach with the Ohio Aviators in PRO.
The new-look staff revealed includes Ben Nicholls, who will stay with the team as an Assistant Coach despite reports to the contrary. The 33-year-old Zimbabwe Sevens cap retired as a player following the 2018 campaign. His brother Joseph remained on the playing roster in 2019.
Shawn Pittman takes over the Forwards Coach role left vacant by the departure of Stevie Scott to London Scottish. The former prop was a member of the 2011 World Cup squad as a player and was part of the USA’s staff in Japan specialising in the set piece.
Taking over the Director of Rugby role is Brandon Sparks. Previously Head Coach at the University of Michigan, Sparks also founded the Legacy Rugby Academy for under-privileged youth. He has coached both the Boys and Girls High School All-Americans and in 2018 acted as a consultant for stand-in coach Phil Mack with the Seattle Seawolves.
Mark Drown continues as Team Manager while Sica Glauser heads into her third season as Team Athletic Trainer. Former Wallabies fullback Chris Latham was earlier this week confirmed as the new Head Coach for the 2020 season. There is no mention of James Semple, the player-coach from New Zealand who at season’s end was expected to continue with the team.
