thank the lawhd, here's hoping we see an improvement in handling and general backs play soon after Ellis beds in.

This is good news that he is finally here and will add some further innovation into the mix.

Delighted to see this....

Ellis completes coaching team at Connacht
31st October 2013

Dave Ellis has linked up with the coaching team at Connacht Rugby. The New Zealander arrived in Ireland this week after completing work in Australia.

Signed as the new Skills Coach on an initial one-year deal, Ellis will work with Head Coach Pat Lam and Assistant Coach Dan McFarland as well as Resource Coaches for the senior squad Nigel Carolan, Jimmy Duffy and Cory Brown.

No way to direct link to the article, sadly.

Dave Ellis is here but its taking 5mins for the site to open

Where the EFFFF is our skills coach? A quarter of the season gone by now and seemingly no sign of him? We all know about the initial problems the team had implementing a new gameplan, surely it would have been easier if the back and skills coach was present.

Dan Parks to coach Connacht U18 Schools/Clubs - connachtrugby.ie
Connacht Rugby is delighted to announce that legendry outhalf Dan Parks will join the Connacht U18 Schools/Clubs coaching team for the coming season. The former Scottish international and leading RaboDirect points scorer will combine his role as U18 backs coach with his playing commitments for the Senior side.
Connacht U18 were narrowly beaten by Leinster in the final of last season’s club inter-pros and hope to build on their position as one of the top provinces at this grade. Parks will complete the coaching team alongside Eamonn Molloy and Ambrose Conboy.
Commenting on the appointment, Coach Development Manager, Eamonn Molloy said: “Connacht's coach succession planning has been very beneficial with both Eric Elwood and Dan McFarland beginning their coaching careers with our age grade teams. Dan (Parks) has a wealth of knowledge and experience which gives him an excellent foundation to his coaching career.

galway_gas wrote: A 1 year contract seems very short.

I'm also a bit worried about the fact that he doesn't get here until September. I assume Carolan will take over in the meantime, but it'll be a big adjustment to make once the season has started

I've already made that list on another post, I even had added Dan Parks but he's from Australia

swift4prez wrote:

galway_gas wrote: Connacht turning into a haven for Kiwi players and coaches.

Pat Lam
Dave Ellis
Craig Clarke
Jake Heenan
Miah Nikora
nathan white
george naoupu
Rodney Ah You

James "Nutcracker" So'Oialo born in Wellington NZ although his older brothers born in Samoa .....Tim Allnutt....Also Rory Parata is half Kiwi.

galway_gas wrote: Connacht turning into a haven for Kiwi players and coaches.

Pat Lam
Dave Ellis
Craig Clarke
Jake Heenan
Miah Nikora
nathan white
george naoupu
Rodney Ah You

He even has his own website! www.ellisrugby.co.nz/about-ellis-rugby.cfm
Certainly lots of experience in coaching non-pro teams in a consultancy role. Hope he can coach professsional players just as well. A 1 year contract seems very short.
Connacht turning into a haven for Kiwi players and coaches.

Gotta say so far Pat Lam has lived up to expectations and built on the good work EE and Co. put in. While I still think the next season is going to be rocky I can see the structures coming in that will ensure us being competitive for seasons to come. Pretty happy right now.

New Backs & Skills Coach joins Connacht Rugby

Connacht Rugby has secured New Zealand born Dave Ellis as the new Backs & Skills Coach on an initial one-year contract.

Ellis, who has been working as Staff Coach for the International Rugby Academy New Zealand (IRANZ) since 2002, will join Pat Lam’s coaching team in September.

With over 20 years’ experience in player skill development, his notable coaching career includes stints with USA Rugby, Black Ferns (NZ Women’s Team) and clubs in Argentina.

Through his contract work and his role at the International Rugby Academy Dave has become internationally recognised as an innovative technical coach who gets result. His ability to maximise skill development in players has meant he is in demand throughout the world as a skills specialist.

Connacht Rugby Head Coach Pat Lam, who has worked with Ellis in the past, said:

“The biggest thing with Dave is his massive ability as a coach around skills, decision making and player development. The last 10 years he’s been involved with the International Rugby Academy in New Zealand, where I worked with him, and I saw the ability he had in improving not only players but also some of the best international coaches in the world.

“I’ve been working closely with Tom Sears and the PGB over the last few months to ensure we get the right staff and they’ve been very supportive. I’ve been so pleased with the quality of coaches here at Connacht - Dan (McFarland), Nigel (Carolan), Jimmy (Duffy), and Cory (Brown). Dave meets that criterion of being a good team man. His knowledge of the game, ability to get his message across, planning and attention to detail is top class and I know he’ll be a big asset for Connacht and Irish Rugby.“

Dave Ellis said:

“I look forward to joining the team at Connacht and working with Pat again.

“I am excited by the innovative systems used at Connacht and hope I can add value to an already flourishing programme.”

- See more at: www.connachtrugby.ie/2013070483361/new-b...Zaht0x.h3nsZF7P.dpuf

I remember Lam mentioned in his first video interview that he was given a guarantee about the number of coaches that would be on board. It was one of the reasons he fell out with the Blues, so I would not expect him to take it lying down. I had hoped that when Samoa finished up their games in South Africa that we would get an announcement from one or two of their coaches, but all quiet so far...

Has anyone got any news on this? Should we start to be worried that we are now into week 2 of pre-season and we are still to appoint a defense or backs coach? We had one of the smallest coaching teams last year as it was.

Would Swift and Parks be lined up for player / coach roles? I'd be pretty happy if that was the case but the general feeling was that external replacements for Forshaw and Millard would be sourced.

A great question, I was just thinking about this this morning. Now that preseason is started we really need to get someone in situ asap, they will need to have training preplanned by the time the strength and conditioning phase is over.