Queensland Reds appoint experienced head coach ahead of 2024 Super W
Looking to go one better in Super Rugby Women’s after losing this year’s final, the Queensland Reds have named Grant Anderson as their new head coach ahead of the 2024 season.
Anderson is one of the most well-known coaches in Queensland club rugby competition following a 15-year stint in the StoreLocal Hospital Cup.
The 48-year-old was named the Gold Coast-based Bond University’s forwards coach in 2016 before moving into the top job as head coach a couple of years later in 2018.
Anderson has overseen the most successful period in Bond’s short history in the premier grade competition by leading the Bull Sharks to their first finals appearance in 2020 and first minor premiership this season.
“I am enormously grateful for the opportunity to work with the Reds Super Rugby Women’s Program,” Anderson said in a statement.
“I have a passion for rugby in Queensland, and the culture that is being instilled throughout the Reds organisation is something I want to drive and be a part of.
“We have some of the most talented players in the country and I am looking forward to inspiring their development and helping them achieve their goals.
“We are entering a new era in Reds Women’s Rugby and I am embracing the challenge of growing this team’s potential while continuing to build on the great foundation that has been laid over previous seasons.
“I will focus on empowering the players, coaches and staff to challenge themselves and each other to be better and to trust the processes which will ultimately lead to the team’s success.”
Having played and coached both overseas and in Australia, Anderson will bring a wealth of experience into the Queensland Reds setup next season.
Anderson played with the Newcastle Falcons, Edinburgh Gunner and Cornish Pirates in the UK, and also represented Souths and the Gold Coast Breakers in the Queensland competition.
The now 48-year-old started his coaching career with the London Wasps Academy as their forwards coach in 2007 and returned to the Gold Coast three years later with The Southport School.
But a new chapter will be written next season after inking a deal with the Reds.
“We’re pleased to welcome Grant to the club in 2024,” Reds General Manager – Professional Rugby Sam Cordingley said.
“He brings great experience across a number of roles and programs and has a great understanding of Queensland rugby.
“It’s an exciting time for women’s rugby with the new facility at Ballymore and we’re confident Grant is the man to make the most of it moving forward.”
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Brumbies are looking good and if they keep their home form up a final is not beyond the realms of possibility. They showed against the Hurricanes exactly how clinical they can be as they absorbed pressure in that contest while also scoring points and applying their own pressure. Reds are well placed as well but need to find consistency. They are building a longer term project with a young side and plenty of quality players. Been surprising to see the strength of Aussie sides this year after the debacle of the world cup. Have NZ sides gotten weaker? Have Aussie sides gotten stronger? A bit of both I would say. Whatever the case its good to see some actual competition between NZ and Aus sides again and thats exactly what the fans wanted and is probably driving better viewership numbers. All of this can only be healthy for Aus and Super Rugby and I hope the Brumbies go all the way.
Go to commentsDead time reductions are important as is ball in play time increases. Premiership leads the way in terms of ball in play and Northern refereeing standards around the breakdown has sped up the game significantly. Super Rugby is trying new things but its not leading the way in terms of making gains in reducing dead time and ball in play time. Northern administrators are also not against speeding up the game, on the contrary they want a faster game and have been trying things and are embracing increasing the speed of rugby. Super Rugby isnt providing a blueprint for anything, its just part the agreed upon blueprint that administrators across the world are moving to.
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