BBC SPORT - Anderson in line for Ulster post

[Rugby News]

Anderson in line for Ulster post

Willie Anderson is believed to be ready to step into the shoes of Ulster's Welsh assistant coach Steve Williams whose two-year contract ends in June.

Ulster coach Matt Williams is keen to link up again with Anderson who was his assistant at Scotland and Leinster.

Anderson is at present a physical education teacher at Sullivan Upper School in Holywood.

Anderson, however, could face stiff opposition from Jeremy Davidson who is leaving his post at Castres in May.

Davidson followed Anderson as Director of Rugby at Dungannon before heading to France two seasons ago. Anderson was coach at Stevenson Park when Dungannon won their only All-Ireland ***le in 2001.

The 53-year-old former Ireland captain has had a varied career in coaching. Along with Williams, he guided Leinster to the Celtic League ***le before the duo moved into the international sphere with Scotland in 2004.

However, after three wins against Samoa, Japan and Italy from 17 games they were dismissed by the Scottish Rugby Union in April 2005.

Recently, Anderson has coached at Ballynahinch and Rainey Old Boys while he currently helps out at Dublin side Lansdowne who are topping AIB League Two.

Davidson, along with assistant the former Ulster coach Mark McCall, is being replaced at the end of the French Championship in May.

The former British and Irish Lions lock, who was one of the heroes in the 1997 tour to South Africa, was a player, captain and senior coach at Castres. He was also a player when Anderson was coach at London Irish and Dungannon.

Anderson will be seen as favourite to take over from Steve Williams, but the appointment will have to go through due process.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport1/hi/r...ion/7865481.stm

 

[An Tarbh]

To be honest I'm surprised this hasn't happened before now, they certainly worked extremely well together at Leinster and he'd immediately have the respect of all the players being the Ulster legend he is.

 

[snoopy snoopy dog dog]

Anderson's past history of working with Williams will probably sway things in his direction. Over Christmas (and perhaps before that) Anderson was doing some "consultancy work" with Ulster with regards improving their continuity. Given the strides Ulster have made in that regard, Anderson did a good job. Since he already has a foot in the door, he'll probably take over from Steve Williams.

It's good to see Matt Williams give Irish coaches in general a chance. Neil Doak (half backs coach) and Reggie Corrigan (scrum coach) are earning their stripes under Williams' regime. Both seem to be performing admirably given the improvement shown by the Ulster front row (Tom Court in particular) along with the emergence of Ian Humphreys and Cillian Willis.