Former Ireland Hooker Lands Coaching Role With The Ospreys
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The Ospreys have appointed former Ireland hooker Allen Clarke as forwards coach ahead of next season.
Clarke will take over from current forwards coach Chris Gibbes who is returning to New Zealand this summer. Gibbes will take up a head-coach role with Mitre 10 Cup side the Wellington Lions.
Clarke will join Ospreys from Ulster, where he has been forwards coach for the past three years, and is delighted with the opportunity given to him by the Ospreys.
“I’m delighted to have this opportunity and really excited about the next challenge in my career.
“Why the Ospreys? What’s impressed me are the people. Many organisations will have values and I get the sense that the people at the Ospreys really do believe and live their values. That creates a good environment to work in, a culture that I’m looking forward to being part of.
“It’s an ambitious organisation, with a great mix of experience and some real talent coming through, and I hope that I can add value, for the players, the coaches and the management. Chris Gibbes has done a great job in building a pack that has the potential to go toe-to-toe with anyone and I’m grateful to have that platform to work from when I arrive in the summer. I’m looking forward to the challenge.
“Ulster, and Irish rugby, has been my life for such a long time, but I’m excited and highly motivated about joining the Ospreys and making the move to the region with my wife, Kerry, it’s a great new adventure for us.
“However, all parties, myself, Ulster and the Ospreys, have a lot of work to do and goals to achieve before the end of the season, when I’ll be able to focus on the future.”
