Quiet winter for noted rugby coach

Press, 15 April 1980, Page 46

Quiet winter for noted rugby coach

Mr Stan Hill, who retired last year af.ter five seasons as forward selector-coach for the Canterbury rugby team, is looking forward to a quiet winter, but he does not rule out the possibility of doing some coaching.

Mr Hill returned home yesterday from his latest coaching stint on the American west coast. He had four months and a half with the San Francisco club, although he has been travelling extensively on coaching assignments over the last few weeks. “The standard of American rugby continues to rise and I would say it has improved 100 per cent since I first went there three years ago. But there is still an urgent heed for good coaches,” he said. He has been asked to return next season and will probably do so. But in the meantime, Mr Hill says he has plenty to keep him occupied bn his Rolleston property where he grows strawberries commercially. “There is a good deal of work to be done and it will be nice to have a winter uncommitted to rugby.” However, Mr Hill said that he had no intention of giving up his association with the

game and he would be available, if wanted, for coaching schools and the like. - Mr Hill stood unsuccessfully for a position on the South Island selection panel this year. He said that he did not really expect to be elected and he would keep his options open on further bids for island or national panels. "They are pretty hard to get on to and you have’ got to expect to be beaten at the first few attempts.” Mr Hill came across quit'e a few New Zealanders playing the off season in America. He had two High School Old Boys members, Mark Harding and Richard Clark, in his San Francisco team and both did well. : The side lacked size and Harding and Clark, who are not even big forwards by New Zealand standards,, werq among the bigger men. “We were dwarfed by some other teams.” said Mr. Hill, “yet we still had a good season and in a big Monterey tour-; nament the team was eighth out of 35.” The former Christchurch senior coach Russell Sker* rett, is coaching in San Diegd and his team, Dolmar, won its second division competition. “Russell had a very good first season” Mr Hill said. .