Ex-Lions prop Corbisiero has taken on an MLR coaching role

Former England and British and Irish Lions loosehead Alex Corbisiero has said that it is a “dream come true” to pass down his knowledge to the next generation of players after signing as scrum coach for Major League Rugby’s LA Giltinis. 

It will be the Los Angeles-based side’s first year in MLR when the 2021 season starts in March, and the New York-born Corbisiero joins a coaching team that also includes former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles. Ex-Canada winger DTH van der Merwe has also signed for the Californian side. 

After his injury-plagued career was cut short in 2016, the 32-year-old former prop said on Twitter that he is “excited to be back in a week in, week out team environment”.  

But he added that the “opportunity to pass on my set-piece knowledge to the next generation of Giltinis, MLR and USA Rugby players was a dream come true.”

Giltinis general manager Adam Freier said that the 2013 Lions series against Australia was where he first took notice of Corbisiero. 

He would not have been the only person, however, as the former Northampton Saints and London Irish forward produced a masterful performance in the deciding Test, not only scoring a try in the opening minutes but terrorising Australia in the scrum. 

Freier said: “Scrummaging is such a critical component to a successful professional rugby team, but sustainable development and educating the next generation of kids out of Los Angeles is far more important and where I believe he [Corbisiero] will bring the greatest level of value to the franchise. 

“Adding to this, he is a quality guy who genuinely loves rugby and wants the sport to thrive here in the US – which is a common goal amongst the entire staff in LA.”

Corbisiero is currently undergoing chemotherapy having been diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2019.