Dave Rennie kicks-off new era of Australian rugby as his tenure as Wallabies coach begins

A new era of Australian rugby is underway after new Wallabies head coach Dave Rennie touched down in Sydney on Monday.

Taking advantage of a month-long break from the PRO14, the incumbent Glasgow Warriors boss has travelled Down Under on a 10-day meet-and-greet tour across Australia.

Rennie’s trip began on Tuesday morning with a traditional welcome ceremony at Rugby Australia headquarters alongside chief executive Raelene Castle.

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He is expected to spend the rest of the day meeting members of RA staff before having lunch with Castle and director of rugby Scott Johnson.

The 56-year-old will then spend Wednesday in Daceyville with the Waratahs, where he will meet with a raft of Wallabies players, including current national skipper Michael Hooper, and newly-instated New South Wales coach Rob Penney.

Rennie’s visit to eastern Sydney will also provide him an opportunity to mingle with a number of members from the highly-promising Junior Wallabies squad, which finished second at last year’s World Rugby U20 Championship in Argentina.

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Many players from that side, such as young fullback Mark Nawaqanitawase, former Western Force flanker Carlo Tizzano and teenage prop Angus Bell, could play a key role in the national set-up for years to come.

Thursday will then see Rennie meet with Australian U20 coaches Adrian Thompson and Jason Gilmore, of whom are responsible for developing the aforementioned youth players on the global stage.

Following that will be his first official public appearance as Wallabies coach at Australia’s Super Rugby launch that afternoon.

Rennie will finish off the week with his Wallabies staff, including new assistants Matt Taylor (defence) and Scott Wisemantel (attack), where he will presumably work on the recruitment of a forwards coach.

A flight to Melbourne ensue on Sunday afternoon will allow Rennie to spend time with the Rebels next Monday before doing the same with the Brumbies in Canberra on Tuesday.

The former title-winning Chiefs coach will then fly to Brisbane on Wednesday to round off his trip with the Reds the following day.

Rennie’s first match in charge of the Wallabies will come later this year, when Australia host Ireland at Suncorp Stadium on July 4.

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