Kafer named as new coach

By Jason Harris (filed: 7/8/03)
August 7 2003

Saracens have named Rod Kafer as the man who will lead their coaching team in 2003-04. Kafer, who was signed from Leicester Tigers in May, had been in charge of coaching matters since the acrimonious departure of Wayne Shelford and his team of Darrell Shelford, Tim Wright and Pat Fox in June.

The 32-year-old is a surprise choice after several big names were linked to the job, including Kafer's former ACT and Australia coach Rod MacQueen and Australia under 21s coach Laurie Fisher. Indeed Fisher was reported to have been offered the job, only to turn it down to pursue his dream of emulating MacQueen and coaching the Brumbies.

Another former Brumby - Sarries CEO Mark Sinderberry - said about the appointment: "I've obviously known Rod since our days back at ACT Brumbies where he played a big role in our success from 1996. He then moved to Leicester for a two year spell before agreeing to join us back in May. He originally came on board as a player coach but now he has got his teeth into the role over the summer he was keen to extend it and after discussion he emerged as the perfect choice to carry us forwards."

Sinderberry was also admant that he believed that Kafer was as good as any other candidate for the job: "Throughout the appointment process I kept on coming back to the fact that nothing I was seeing was any better than what we already had in place. As pre-season training got under way the reports from the players and other coaches have been very impressive and it became obvious that the natural successor was already in place." and he concluded "Rod has the respect of the players and the staff and we have talked at length about our vision for the club and our game."

Kafer was very pleased to learn that he will be hangning up his playing boots early after his appointment and is confident that the early ground work for 2003-04 was instrumental in him getting the nod from Sinderberry:

"Pre-season training has been going well and when Mark discussed the opportunity with me I knew it was the right thing for me to do." said Kafer.

"I've been involved with a lot of decisions in relation to the new season at the club and have contributed to discussions on the make up of the team that has been put together both on and off the pitch." he added.

The 12-times capped Wallaby concluded "I've effectively been leading the coaching since July and our discussions centred on the fact that there was a good amount of continuity already within the camp and we wanted to build on it."

The appointment of Kafer who will be the youngest head coach in the Zurich Premierhsip is sure do divide opnion amongst the Saracens fans, many of whom have been demanding an experienced, proven coach since Shelford's departure.

It remains to be seen whether the reportedly happy squad - a novelty for Sarries after the travails under Shelford and his predecessor Francois Pienaar - can be turned into a winning one that can deliver the success so craved by the long-suffering supporters and owner Nigel Wray.