One of the leading contenders to replace John Manenti as Australia’s men’s sevens coach has withdrawn, leaving Rugby Australia in a scramble to fill the head coaching role less than a month out from the Dubai Sevens.
After Manenti bit the bullet to return to the 15-man game following their fourth place at the Paris Olympics, The Roar can reveal his right-hand man, James Stannard, has also pulled out of the running to fill the vacant head coaching position.
It’s believed Stannard grew increasingly frustrated at the drawn out affair to lock down the next men’s sevens coach and, after much consideration, has opted to return to Perth, where he is expected to be unveiled shortly as Simon Cron’s new assistant with the Western Force.
His signature is a homecoming of sorts for the Queenslander, with the former Force and Brumbies back, who spent five years in Super Rugby before switching to sevens, owning a property in Perth.
His signing comes after spending time in the Force program in recent years.
Australia’s men’s sevens program doesn’t have a coach one month out from the Dubai Sevens after James Stannard followed former head coach John Manenti out the door. (Photo by Bradley Collyer/PA Images via Getty Images)
The sevens guru’s departure leaves RA in a pickle four weeks out from Australia’s Dubai Sevens World Series opener because it’s understood the remaining three candidates – Chris Whitaker, Jim McKay and Zak Beer – don’t have experience in the format.
While Whitaker and McKay are two experienced operators in the 15-man game, neither have spent any significant time in sevens. Beer, the rising Northern Suburbs head coach, has yet to coach in a professional program.
The lack of options could tempt RA to cast the net wider and speak with someone with a sevens background, including Ben Gullings.
The former England star, who is based in Queensland, was sacked as head coach by Fiji months out from the Paris Olympics.
Although his departure culminated in Fiji reemerging as a threat, where they were eventually denied an Olympic gold three-peat by host nation France in the final, his experience is impossible to deny.
Australia’s men’s sevens team fell just short of bringing home an Olympic medal, finishing four in Paris. (Photo by Pete Dovgan/Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Fortunately, RA has national performance manager Scott Bowen working across both the men’s and women’s programs if the governing body needs someone to fill in temporarily.
The lack of proactiveness hasn’t gone down well in the sevens program, with players questioning whether they should remain invested in rugby.
With just five World Series events set in stone for the 2024-25 series, the sport cut from next year’s Commonwealth Games and no clarity around the next World Cup, many are fearful the program could go backwards.
