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Ex-Lions prop Corbisiero has taken on an MLR coaching role
By Josh Raisey
Former England and British and Irish Lions loosehead Alex Corbisiero has said that it is a “dream come true” to pass down his knowledge to the next generation of players after signing as scrum coach for Major League Rugby’s LA Giltinis.
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It will be the Los Angeles-based side’s first year in MLR when the 2021 season starts in March, and the New York-born Corbisiero joins a coaching team that also includes former Wallaby Stephen Hoiles. Ex-Canada winger DTH van der Merwe has also signed for the Californian side.
After his injury-plagued career was cut short in 2016, the 32-year-old former prop said on Twitter that he is “excited to be back in a week in, week out team environment”.
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But he added that the “opportunity to pass on my set-piece knowledge to the next generation of Giltinis, MLR and USA Rugby players was a dream come true.”
Giltinis general manager Adam Freier said that the 2013 Lions series against Australia was where he first took notice of Corbisiero.
Why I took the role ??I’m excited to be back in a week in week out team environment but really the opportunity to pass on my set piece knowledge to the next generation of @Giltinis @usmlr & @USARugby players was a dream come true! https://t.co/uQW1NQWSEs
— Alex Corbisiero (@AlexCorbs) October 27, 2020
He would not have been the only person, however, as the former Northampton Saints and London Irish forward produced a masterful performance in the deciding Test, not only scoring a try in the opening minutes but terrorising Australia in the scrum.
Freier said: “Scrummaging is such a critical component to a successful professional rugby team, but sustainable development and educating the next generation of kids out of Los Angeles is far more important and where I believe he [Corbisiero] will bring the greatest level of value to the franchise.
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“Adding to this, he is a quality guy who genuinely loves rugby and wants the sport to thrive here in the US – which is a common goal amongst the entire staff in LA.”
Corbisiero is currently undergoing chemotherapy having been diagnosed with testicular cancer in November 2019.
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