By Coventry Evening Telegraph
April 14 2006

Coventry are in talks to sign former England back Austin Healey. The 32-year-old British Lion visited the Butts Park Arena earlier this week to meet Cov's head coach Mike Umaga, who is optimistic that a deal can be done for next season.

Coventry Evening Telegraph

14^th Apr 2006

John Wilkinson

 

Coventry are in talks to sign former England back Austin Healey.

 

The 32-year-old British Lion visited the Butts Park Arena earlier this week to meet Cov's head coach Mike Umaga, who is optimistic that a deal can be done for next season.

 

Healey plays for Leicester in tonight's Guinness Premiership game at Northampton, but intends to step down from full-time rugby at the end of the season before beginning a testimonial year.

 

He was put in touch with Cov by the club's conditioning coach Darren Grewcock, who is also Healey's personal trainer.

 

"We talked and it's a matter of trying to find what amount of time he can give us and how it will work," said Umaga.

 

 “We're pretty close to something and I'm very hopeful.

 

"We need a playmaker and with the young players we have in the squad, we need someone to lead.

 

"Someone of his capability and experience would be just the man.

 

"He's a busy man, but he has said that if it works out he will be 100 per cent behind the cause.

 

"He likes the prospect of coming to Coventry and just playing a different style of rugby."

 

Healey won 51 caps for England playing at full-back, on the wing and at fly-half and scrum-half.

 

"We discussed where he would play and we both came up with the fly-half position," added Umaga.

 

"Mike Walls is going to progress and improve at scrum-half, and working alongside someone like Austin would only help him as I'm sure it will the others outside.

 

"Our current fly-half Jon Higgins has been offered a contract but has yet to re-sign.

 

"If he does decide to stay the opportunity to work with Austin can only add to his experience, which is probably the only thing he is missing.

 

"These opportunities don't come along very often and when I was first made aware that Austin might be available I didn't have to think twice."