St Andrew’s College of Grahamstown is in the process of finding a new Director of Rugby. The reason for this is that Old Selbornian Allan Miles, their head of rugby for the past five seasons has decided not to renew his contract. He will instead be follow a different career path by take up a full-time teaching post and senior housemaster position at neighbouring Graeme College, starting in 2015.
Allan joined St Andrew’s in 2010 from a profession coaching background and was able to share the latest rugby ideas and techniques available at the time. He helped put a number of systems and structures in place. He developed a playing pattern, rugby language, an age group specific coaching curriculum, numerous coaching resources, player profiles, coaching of the coaches as well as helping them to up their skills and the creating of continuity between the age groups.
Importantly along with other very capable coaches at the private school, a strategy map was drawn up in 2010. As a result 2013 turned out to be a record breaking season for SAC. In their open division they achieved their school rugby best results ever, losing just 8 out of 70 played. That year they also had a record number of provincial representatives at Craven Week.
St Andrew’s is by no means a big school. They only have about 300 rugby players to select from and have to punch well above their weight, particularly when taking on out of province opponents. However, Graeme College only has about 180 players to select from. The challenge ahead is definitely spelt out by that participation number. One thing’s for sure, Graeme stand to benefit tremendously from Allan’s coaching skills and experience, which even the biggest and best rugby schools in SA would welcome.
Allan Miles’ background:
• School education: Selborne College, Head Prefect and Hostel Head Prefect
• Highest level played at school: Border U18 Craven Week 1999
• Tertiary education: Rhodes University
• Highest level played after school: Semi-professionally for the Border Bulldogs in the Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup 2005
• Highest level coached: Coaching coordinator and Breakdown coach of the Lions Currie Cup 2009 as one of Jake White’s Winning Way consultants
• Current: Eastern Province Country Districts U18 Craven Week Head Coach 2013 –
I did the Jake White course with Allan and JW was very impressed with him.
Very focussed rugby guy and very nice guy.
@CHS08:
I need to stop entertaining BOG on here
@Playa: I think its the latter.
@Knight_CHS07: They’ve been playing twice for the last couple of years. But I’ve just checked next year’s fixture list and they only play once…maybe I’m getting old
I thought Hudson play Dale once a year…it was only last year that they played twice…unless i’m mistaken. CHS played Dale twice last year as well, one game being on Border Schools Day
@Playa:
@Knight_CHS07: Played them from 1927 to 1991.No idea why we stopped. Results may have become one-sided in Dale’s favour, but I cant think that is why.I’d personally rather cancel the return fixture against Hudson and add them on.
@Wyvern: Snoozles don’t blog with us peasants
@Playa: Indeed a massive gain for Graeme! I’ve only heard good things about Allan Miles and his coaching.
Are there any snoozles on the blog that can give comment?
@Playa: I had no idea Graeme was once an annual fixture for Dale.
Massive, massive gain for Graeme!!! Great man with passion for daaaays!
Now, here’s to hoping that the powers that be bring back the Dale-Graeme fixture.