Grant Bashford has been reappointed by Northwood. Bashford was one of former Sharks head coach John Plumtree’s right-hand men for the past few years. He now assumes the role of Head of Rugby at Northwood, making him Malcolm Kennedy’s replacement in title, although Bash will be in charge of coaching the 1st XV and therefore in a way replaces former head coach Donald Ngwenya as well.
Kennedy and Ngwenya’s contracts were not renewed by the school after the 2013 season. Both men remain actively involved in rugby though, Kennedy through his work with Varsity College and the DRSU youth club rugby and Ngwenya mostly as a Sharks development official and coach.
Northwood has been though quite a rollercoaster ride in the past few seasons. Their goal to bring their rugby up to the standard of the better KwaZulu-Natal tier-1 teams has had it’s moments but they have never quite managed to make the transition. After Barry Wilson was released in 2012, Swys de Bruin briefly took charge and his strong connections to the Sharks Academy provided Northwood with the benefit of being able to identify and recruit several players including two out of province SA under-16 High Performance props.
In theory, the “buying a team” approach seemed like the way to go to get improved 1st XV results overnight and with it that knock-on effect of better players being prepared to join the school going forward. However in the end, the 2013 results achieved were not much different to those produced under Wilson’s guidance in 2011 on a much smaller budget and using mostly homegrown players.
The bottom line seems to be that Northwood had to try something different in order to match their ambition. If it had worked they might have been back in the ballgame as far as challenging the leading KZN schools on a weekly basis is concerned. Instead it’s now a return to a more traditional approach to rugby and in a respect back to square one for the Durban North school.
All was not in vain though. Kennedy has left Bashford with a strengthened squad of players to work with. Northwood’s 2014 goal should be to target wins against the teams in the lower half of Tier-1, something that should be within their reach, provided they hold onto all their recruited stayers.
Simon Vickers remains the one familiar face in the 1st team coaching setup. After being given a diminished role in last year’s team, the likeable and hardworking coach and former Head of Rugby proved his worth when asked to briefly take charge of the schools underperforming under-16A team. A hard fought win against a strong Glenwood u16 team underlined his value. He will serve as Bashford’s assistant in the capacity of backline coach and will take charge of strength and conditioning as well.
@Pedantic: i refer to certain of them, just look at applications and whom got selected to do IPT duties, very simple mate,
as regards to DRSU, yes good to see new teams in and development teams, no doubt, my view has always been that certain people have over stayed their welcome, and new blood is needed,
I say it like I see it , and know it ?
I think the idea and the whole DRSU is a good thing, I think that further development and expansion is a good thing , I think the growth of Club rugby will allow boys outside of tier one 1 , schools an opportunity and avenue , I support this, what I don’t support is the personal goals and self-entitlement of some of the Exco of this entity. You might recall your club and funds a few years ago that still haven’t been answered,
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@beet:I don’t think so , simply MK was pronouncing how they were going to buy a team with a budget, remember this was after years or scathing attacks on Glenwood and what they were doing, not that I agreed with the GW process,
Tis after he was very and I mean very instrumental in the ousting of Barry Wilson and his team, whom I had met and knowing both MK and Wilson and his team, and knowing boys coached under Barry as well as MK, I can tell you MK was all about how he personally benefited from the ousting of BW and his team
MK came along with the attitude to Northwood , that he had the answers, being and having started the Varsity College Junior Rugby , after being left out at Crusaders , see the pattern, the move of him into the position was completely personal on two fronts , I can elaborate if you want ,
I also think I made it quite clear earlier in the season, prior to it starting actually, that Donald would make a difference, I think you make mention here the same issue ,
If Northwood are to make any impact , they have to look at increasing the Boarding Establishment , then they need to work through with Fitness and capable persons.
Winning teams are more than a purchased bunch of individuals, Glenwood are learning this , if Northwood, wanted to do the same, then leapfrog this and stay away from buying , build from u16 level,
I just need to be honest and see it the way I see it , MK, just isn’t the person capable of doing this, flog me if you want but it’s the way it is and it is what it is
@Pedantic: I tend to agree. Malcolm was given very little time to build a team or a system – he had to use all or nothing tactics. Under the circumstances he achieved a lot in a short space of time. Even those who were anti his approach should be commending his effort. Had Swys not decided to move to the Lions, I suspect the results would have been better and MK would have received a contract renewal. Looking back perhaps the one decision MK should have made differently was the appointment of Donald as coach. From what I saw NW’s best patch of form came during the period when DN was away (illness). I also think under different circumstances DN could succeed as a coach, but with the time constraint, it might have been better to get someone with extensive KZN 1st team coaching experience on board. Someone like Wilson or Vowles or even back someone like Vickers who understands NW rugby.
Great appointment, Old Boy and senior coach, well done Northwood. If only my beloved Glenwood could do the same, bring in a passionate old boy with senior coaching experience. Good luck to Northwood but they going to need to get a good 2014 intake to support the 2013 Under16 group. Their Under14A lost 64-0 and their Under15A lost 81-0 to Glenwood, two tough years after a couple of good’ish ones…uphill battle there….DHS are looking far rosier then they do…
@Green Hopper: That’s a rather scathing personal attack and not quite accurate IMO.
WRT Northwood and Kennedy’s impact there – it was always unrealistic to expect a borderline tier 1 school to be competitive within a single season, regardless of the several imports they brought in. If we look at the big picture, there is certainly improvement and more to come in future seasons.
I stand to be corrected, but I believe Kennedy was also instrumental in putting NW’s current Under 16 team together – a team that we all know is very competitive – Bash is going to have the benefit of working with that squad over the next two seasons and will surely bring the best out of them.
Add to the momentum that the Dutch player (I think) has been included in the Sharks U19’s and we see that he did actually have an impact all round.
Then onto your attack on the DRSU (and you know I haven’t always agreed with all the policies in the past) – The IPT is their flagship, a marketing tool of sorts to get more and more players into the various leagues. Personally, I think they’ve done a good job there as participation is far higher than it has been in the past although a lot of credit needs to go to the various clubs for their huge efforts too, but keep in mind all the clubs needed guidelines and proper leadership to grow the thing to what it is now.
In terms of DRSU’s rugby development – you’ve probably been away too long – this season the DRSU have assisted Jaguars and Amabhubesi (both development clubs) and as a result there are 70 new development players participating weekly against tier 1 and tier 2 players – where else would these guys get the opportunity to develop their rugby? I’m not quite sure how the DRSU administrators benefit from this personally, maybe you could elaborate on that ?
Interesting appointment. This also, in a way, widens the pool for Natal schools coaching positions. I wonder if he’ll be keen to get involved there. The players will be there at Northwood. That u16 age group is a good one. I sincerely hope he succeeds. KZN needs another strong school.
no loss with Kennedy , his influence has had no impact, he openly stated that he was not going to be like Glenwood , but then sated he had a “budget” to buy players, he has had a personal interest , in “players” at Northwood, his input at Old Boys is all supported in how it helps Varsity College
at DRSU level he was or left Crusaders, has the same impact there as does the other management there, just looks at how incestuous Management and coaches etc exist , DRSU is more about trying to complete with Craven week, with IPT rather than the development of Rugby , Chairman is all about Politics and where his club and other lie , and about how he can be accepted in KZN now with DRSU representation,
the whole idea about 3rd term rugby , involvement of par-schools, and growth of rugby in the 3rd term it’s all about personal, development ,
That’s a good coaching combination. Simon Vickers is a fitness fanatic (one of the fittest “ballies” I know, still competes with lighties 1/2 his age on the beach in lifesaving), Bash knows Northwood, relates hellova well to youngsters, and is also held in high esteem by the Durban North community, so he will play his part in getting back the trust that has been so suddenly lost this year.
In short – watch out KZN rugby.