Glimpse of bright future for England coaches at Dubai Rugby Sevens

Of the four semi-finalists in the world series tournament at the Emirates Airline Dubai Sevens, three had English coaches.

England’s Ben Ryan, right, took Fiji to the Dubai Rugby Sevens title, his fourth in the emirate in six years. Warren Little / Getty Images

DUBAI // None of England, Ireland, Scotland or Wales have a home coach in the 15-a-side game.

England were the last to give way to the foreign invasion, when they appointed Eddie Jones, the Australian, last month to save them after the shemozzle of their home Rugby World Cup.

The difference to sevens could not be more stark. Of the four semi-finalists in the world series tournament at the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens, three have English coaches.

Simon Amor, a former world player of the year in the format, is still finding his way in charge of England. Reaching the Dubai final was another sign of promise.

The two most captivating teams in the competition, world-class Fiji and box-office United States, are coached by Amor’s two immediate predecessors.

Ben Ryan and Mike Friday are both Londoners.

They are contrasting characters, but each has a fine record of success in sevens.

Ryan has won the Dubai title four times in six years, over the course of spells with England and now Fiji.

Friday won it back-to-back with England in 2004 and 2005, and in recent times has overseen marked improvements in spells in charge of Kenya and USA.

“It has made me a better coach by a huge margin,” Ryan said of his time abroad. “I think Mike would say the same about USA and Kenya.

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“For me, it is the best thing that has happened to my coaching. Different athletes to coach, different structures to work within.

“Once you get a taste for overseas, you tend not to want to go back straight away. Whether my next job will be in the UK or remain overseas somewhere, I am open, really. You are always learning.”

Ryan also has Chris Cracknell, who was no stranger to winning in Dubai during his time as a player for England, as an assistant coach with him in Fiji.

“To win it with this set of lads is very special,” said Cracknell, who played against many of the Fiji players he is now coaching.

“Some took to me better than others, better than the ones I’d had a few fracas with over the years. The boys are excellent.

“Despite their demeanour on the pitch, they are excellent off it. They accepted me with open arms and having played against me they knew what I was about, and what I was there to do. I get to work with former foes on a regular basis.”

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