Liam Barry, a former flanker for the All Blacks, has been appointed head coach of Australia's men's rugby sevens team. This announcement was made on Monday as the team aims to build upon their fourth-place finish at the recent Paris Olympics.
At 53 years old, Barry follows in the footsteps of a family legacy, as both his father and grandfather played for New Zealand. He succeeds John Manenti, who stepped down after the Olympics in August.
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Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Barry stated, "I'm very excited to take the team into the next cycle based on what they've achieved at the Paris Olympics." He emphasized a focus on enhancement rather than major changes, saying, "I'm not looking to reinvent the wheel but rather build on what is already there."
Barry noted the positive attributes of the current players, highlighting their fitness, speed, and skill. He is eager to collaborate with the athletes as they prepare for upcoming competitions.
His background includes representing the All Blacks from 1993 to 1995, after which he played for NEC and Kubota in Japan. Following his playing career, he served as an assistant coach for the All Blacks sevens team and most recently worked with High Performance Sport New Zealand.
Australia is set to begin its sevens season in Dubai on November 30, where they will aim to implement Barry's strategies and build on their previous successes. The team looks forward to a promising future under his guidance.
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