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Leicester add another coach to assist transformation sought under Geordan Murphy
By Online Editors
Leicester Tigers’ revamp ahead of the 2019/20 season has resulted in another addition to bolster head coach Geordan Murphy’s preparation of his squad.
Tigers have been undergoing a shake-up throughout a club that was recently put up for sale following their worst ever 11th place finish to last season’s Gallagher Premiership campaign.
Their latest addition is another familiar name as David Mélé is returning as a pathway coach with special focus on half-back play throughout every team at the club, including Murphy’s seniors.
As a scrum-half, Mélé played nearly 50 times for Tigers before returning to play in France during the summer of 2015.
After spells with Perpignan, Toulouse and Grenoble, and international recognition with Spain last season, he has announced his retirement as a player.
Now he has returned to Welford Road to work alongside Dave Wilks, Matt Smith and Tom Harrison with the academy squad and with the half-backs at the club.
Tigers head coach Murphy said: “David will assist the coaching team working with the half-backs at academy, development and senior levels at the club in a similar role to the one performed by Boris Stankovich with the scrum.
“We have got a very strong group of players at scrum-half and fly-half, and there is great potential throughout the club in those positions.
“Like Boris’ work with the scrum, a specialist focus can build the consistency and continuity we are seeking to bring the best out of all of those players.
“David also brings with him a different perspective as someone brought up through French club rugby as well as his experience of the Premiership, and we think he will add a lot to what we already have here in terms of passing on that knowledge to young players.”
A French title winner with Perpignan, Mélé made his Tigers debut in September 2013 and scored eight tries in 44 appearances.
WATCH: The sixth and final episode of The Academy, the RugbyPass documentary series on how Leicester Tigers develop their younger players
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Latest Comments
Does anyone know a way to loook at how many mins each player has played whilst on tour?
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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