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Head coach Mike Blair surprisingly reveals he's quitting Edinburgh
By Liam Heagney
Edinburgh have revealed that head coach Mike Blair is to quit at the end of the current season after opting not to renew his contract with the Scottish URC club. A statement read: “Mike Blair has decided not to renew his term as Edinburgh Rugby head cvoach at the end of the 2022/23 season.
“Blair took the helm of the capital club at the start of the 2021/22 season as Edinburgh finalised a move to its own, purpose-built home for the first time. That season saw the club reach the URC play-offs and quarter-final of the Challenge Cup, lift the Scottish/Italian Shield and 1872 Cup, and qualify for the following season’s Heineken Champions Cup competition.
“In his second season, the former club captain and centurion has led the club to the knockout rounds of the Champions Cup, earning a round 16 tie away against Leicester Tigers at the end of next month, while on URC duty the club sits four points outside of the playoffs with four vital games to go.”
Blair said: “My greatest passion is coaching - developing individuals, groups, and the team - to allow them to get the most out of themselves. As a head coach it is very difficult to do this justice because of everything else that comes with the role. For my next role ,I want to put my energy and knowledge into being a world-class attack coach.
“My time as head coach has been a brilliant experience, working with outstanding players, coaches, and management. It is also an all-consuming job, to which I have given everything to since being appointed and I have learned a lot about myself and the game during this period. This will be invaluable going forward as I look to continue my development, whilst not ruling out a return to a head coach role in the future.
“Edinburgh Rugby and Scottish Rugby have been incredibly supportive and patient with me while I came to this decision, which I am very grateful for. It has been humbling to lead my home club, so it was an incredibly difficult decision to make. I know this decision may come as surprise to some people, but I truly believe focusing on my passion will allow me to get the best out of myself and the players I coach.”
Edinburgh director Douglas Struth added: “I’d like to thank Mike for his contribution. He is a club legend and has played a big part in creating many memorable moments for the club, with a lot still to play for in the current campaign.
“I’d also like to commend him for what is a proactive, positive, and brave decision, which is in keeping with how he has operated in the past season and a half with the club. During this time we have made notable progress under his leadership – driving standards and our style of play in our new home.”
Scottish Rugby CEO Mark Dodson said: “I’d like to extend my thanks to Mike for the superb job he has done at Edinburgh Rugby. I know this wasn’t an easy decision for him to not continue as head coach but it is one I fully respect and support as the best thing for Mike as a coach and individual.
“He deserves credit for both the progress and achievements the club have made in the past two seasons and for his own personal contribution to that. Mike will still be in post for the rest of this season, and I know the team and coaching group still have a lot to play for and will want to end this campaign on a high.
“We are in discussions with Edinburgh and Douglas Struth to find a new head coach for the club, who will update the fans further once this is completed.”
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Latest Comments
Unfortunately you don't know anything about French rugby, coaches and players but still making a lot of assumptions and judgements to push your prefabricated and simplistic point of view that Dupont is manipulating everything and is a bad guy. I am not a NZ rugby specialist and wouldn't dare make such theories about what is going on within the ABs team. Therefore my advice to you is to do like Dupont and stay humble when you don't know all the background of the issues !!!
Firstly if you knew a bit of Galthié, he is not the type of coach who is going to ask advice to his players and even his captain about team selection. He is as stubborn as you...
Second Ramos has played a lot of times as 10 with Toulouse and therefore Dupont (in particular when Ntamack is injured and unfortunately it has often happened recently and for long periods). He even played 10 during the last 3 games of the 2024 6N and this was far better performance than the first two games with Jalibert as 10.
Thirdly Jalibert lacked of respect to a La Rochelle player so your theory is once again out.
Fourth as I explained to you Galthié went for a 6-2 bench and Jalibert can only play 10 which doesn't fit that plan. Furthermore as 15 Buros is better under high balls than Ramos and everybody is prepared for a tactical kicking game.
So you can blame Galthié for a lot of things (as you clearly enjoy doing at the end of your post and you should be very happy as an AB fan) but certainly not Dupont. Sorry once more for your conspiracy theory.
And don't worry about potential disharmony in the French team; they are excellent mates around their captain. Jalibert is well known in the French rugby circles to have not a strong character (and we saw that in the WC quarter finals as he is very nervous in any decisive international game unlike Ntamack and Ramos as for his late penalty kick vs England this year).
In conclusion enjoy the game tmrw night. It is good that the ABs are very upset; we should watch a great game of rugby. I hope for running rugby and not too much kicking. With 5 key players injured on our side (Ntamack, Baille, Atonio, Cros and Penaud) and 2 on your side I and various French fans see you as favourites. I obviously hope for another result.
If you are interested you can read a good article in the Guardian on the subject of France-NZ games.
Go to commentsConsistency agree and SA were not unbeaten in 2023 RWC NZ were in 2015 - McCaw and Carter Nonu and Smith SA did not have those Marque players in those postions in 2019 or 2023 - So I wouldnt rank them ahead of tje ABs of 20I5 that clocked up 60 points against France in the QF - furthermore I do not believe for one moment SA won 2023 fairly no way - they were so favoured it became obvious that behind the scenes SA the nation bought the title - Their last 3 matches were won by a solitary point - Sport has been hijacked by a satanic cult just as is Politics
Some players coaches officials and sponsors are involved they know who they are - its called freemasonry - any sport that allows betting is corrupt - its not all about money either for these parasites its also about control - lots of American NFL players have spoken openly about games being scripted - Football is also rigged Referees have been caught on film showing freemason hand signs - The 95 world cup final ranks as the highest and most obvious attempt at cheating There was no way SA were going to allow NZ to gate crash Nelson Mandelas reunification party - NZ were so good they had to posion almost the entire team to get a 3 point win - a Hollywood Movie ( theres your Red Flag ) was made about SAs triumph called Invictus
William Henley wrote a poem called Invictus
It starts
Out of the night that covers me BLACK ( All Blacks ) as the pit from pole to pole, I thank whatever GODS maybe for my unconquerable Soul ...( Olan says INVICTUS is an evil Malevolent entity who corrupted the Titans ... this is Mandelas double meaning speech ( hes a fraud ) - of thanks for helping overcome SA's adversary NZ - There is only ONE true God Yahuah - Only a false god would be complicit in Cheating Corruption and Harming others to win a RWC for a sick and sinful Nation ) the poem ends with
I am the CAPTAIN of my soul
SA will forever bear the stain of guilt and disgrace over their involvement in poisoning the ABs a day before the 95 RWC Final
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