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Billy Twelvetrees lands coaching gig after retirement
By Josh Raisey
Former England centre Billy Twelvetrees has been named the new backs and attack coach of Hartpury, after announcing his retirement in June.
The 35-year-old will make a return to Gloucestershire with the Championship outfit that have close ties with his former club Gloucester.
Twelvetrees spent eleven years at Kingsholm, registering over 270 appearances for the Cherry and Whites.
The former centre has plenty of experience of the Championship, having helped Ealing Trailfinders win the league in his final season as a professional.
Hartpury finished five places below Twelvetree's Ealing last season in the Championship.
"I’m very excited to be joining Hartpury Rugby," said Twelvetrees.
"It’s a fantastic opportunity to be part of an unbelievable rugby programme across the men’s and women’s pathway. The production line of players and national titles is unrivalled, and I can’t wait to be part of that.”
“It’s the start of my coaching journey and I couldn’t think of a better place than Hartpury to get going.”
Hartpury director of rugby John Barnes added: "It’s fantastic to bring someone of Billy’s calibre to Hartpury Rugby.
"Billy is a highly respected player and his rugby brain is second to none. With his proven pedigree, he will bring a high level of skill and knowledge to the players, and the coaching team.”
"This is a really exciting appointment for us, and we are looking forward to welcoming Billy to Hartpury Rugby."
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Latest Comments
My ‘fantasy’ team V Ireland,
Including options from ABXV if needed, as V Mun better V Ireland better prep than England.
The most important aspect V Ireland is AB need ALL their loosies AND 'loosie capable locks' on ALL match [except IF(?) any tiring ie the aging & slowing eg Cane]. As follows,
{starting} bench (3rd choice)
1 {De Groot} / Tu’ungafasi (Williams)
2 { anyone that can throw!! }/ Aumua (Brodie McAlister)
Ryan! coach lineouts & Aumua to throw!
3 {Lomax}/ Tosi (Newell )
Tosi immense strength V England
4,5 Locks { P.Tuipulotu, S.Barrett }, Vaa’i, Darry
( Isaia Walker-Leawere)
Vaa’i off V Eng. Assumed due to leg injury(?)
6,7,8 Loose forwards { Sititi, A.Savea, Cane } Vaa’i, S.Barrettm, P.Tuipulotu back up (Devan Flanders, Du'Plessis Kirifi )
9 {Roigard } Ratima ( TJ )
10 {D.McK} Perofeta ( Plummer)
12 {J.Barrett } ALB ( Q.Tupaea )
13 {Proctor} Ioane ( AJ Lam )
Ioane (off V England ) but Irish experience (NO not Sexton!)
14 { Tele’a} Reece (bkup W.Jordan )
11 {C.Clarke} Narawa (K.Naholo)
15 {W.Jordan} Love (Stevenson)
Go to commentsI guess the other option would be to start ALB, he's looked good in the 12 so far when he starts and sets up those outside him. But that would mean putting the vice captain on the bench, which is unlikely. Another option would be to drop Reiko to the bench and play Proctor, though he's gone home so that's not going to happen either.
Both of those players just offer more of the soft distribution skills good centres learn from playing their careers there. Unfortunately that's what's lacking with the current combo.
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