Unusual rugby coach

Press, 9 April 1980, Page 24

Unusual rugby coach

J) ? The ;Uniyersity.,B ..senior »rugby side has an interJ esting coach this year. He r -is a- man who has no reputation as a player, whose hast -coaching experience Lwas With a schoolboy side ji;in 1968 and who is not sjeven a , member of the s'. University club. . But Mr Norm Fraser is tf undaunted S; by the challenge and fie confidently J predicts that his team will J begin the seasb> with - a’ " t win over Sydenham on 4 Saturday and “go .on. to '‘ claim a place ;, in -. the top /.eight.” u Mr Fraser has had a ’• long association , with, the K Sumner club and junior jugby-; He.. has a

term on the Canterbury Rugby Union as the representative of the junior, advisory board and he was one of the key figures in the organising of the Asian and Pacific Rugby Congress at Lincoln College in 1977. < Originally Mr Fraser was to have been partnered by the former All Black No. 8, Bill McCaw,who nowadays is the headmaster at' Kaiapoi primary school. But Mr McCaw withdrew and Mr Fraser agreed to continue alone., _ . .. “However. I have a few helpers lined up and I am sure we will have, a good season,” sHid Mr Fraser. “There is some experience

with players from last •season and some useful newcomers.”

While it is 12 years" since he coached a team, Mr Fraser has been involved with coaching committees and coaching schools in recent times and he professes to “at least knowing the theory.” Although traditionally given the left-overs from the A side, University B will be under some presure to improve its standing this year. There is a' growing feeling that unless the B side climbs the ladder the University Club should be permitted no more than one senior side.