By Sea_point
July 12 2011

Connacht have secured former Australian 7's coach Billy Millard as their new backs coach on a two year deal. Millard, who spent two years with the Cardiff Blues, will join Connacht in the coming weeks following a year off with family in Australia. Millard's arrival fills the vacancy left by Brian Melrose's departure to London Irish this summer.

One of Australia's most talented coaches, Millard has worked with some of rugby's greatest players in his time as the head coach for the national 7's side, head coach of Sydney University and head coach of the Melbourne Rebels. Players such as scrumhalf Luke Burgess, fullback Ashley Cooper, wingers Drew Mitchell and Digby Ioane and wonder kid James O'Connor have all benefited from Billy's coaching expertise.

Pic (C) www.inpho.ie/Getty Images

Millard led the powerful Sydney University club to back to back Premierships in 2005 and 2006, then took the Melbourne Rebels to the Grand Final of the Australian Rugby Championship. Billy has most recently been working with the Cardiff Blues and in his time there the Welsh side reached the quarter final and semi finals stages of the Heineken Cup and lifted both the EDF Energy Cup and the Amlin Challenge Cup.

Speaking about the move Billy said:
"I'm really looking forward to joining Connacht. It is a very exciting time for both me and the club as Connacht head into their first season of Heineken Cup rugby. I look forward to working with Eric Elwood and the rest of the coaching team in helping to develop the squad for the season to come."

Team manager Tim Allnutt was equally as pleased:
"We are very happy to have Billy joining us next season, he comes with a great pedigree of coaching and a proven track record of success both nationally with Australia and within Europe having been involved with the Cardiff Blues for a number of very successful seasons."  

Millard joins Connacht as Backs Coach

Discussion started by Connacht Rugby Supporters (IP Logged), 12/07/2011 12:31

Connacht Rugby Supporters
12/07/2011 12:31

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Overstrander
12/07/2011 16:19

Good to see additions to the backroom staff. Seems to have good experience too.

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keyboard
12/07/2011 16:43

Its good to see that the talent we seem to have obtained will be guided by someone with an expansive attitude to the game.Lets hope all these positive developments lead to an improvement in our standing in the league table.
Its also good that Millard is unlikely to know any of the players so can come to the selection table with an open mind. Sometimes, in the past, it seemed difficult for less experienced players to be given the opportunity to show their talents. Here's hoping all players will be given adequate chances to perform ,not only in the pre season matches,but also in the Magners ( sorry Rabo ). In the past the coaches have sometimes appeared to go with the old reliables, rather than developing younger talents. Millards experience with some of the Australian precocious talent bodes well for our less experienced players.

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YoungBlood
12/07/2011 17:09

Delighted with this news, with all the experience he is bringing to the table, he will surely help our backline to get firing this season. Will be great for the likes of Griffin to get working under him at close quarters too

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ummm,
12/07/2011 19:01

Glad to see they managed to find someone on such short noticed after Billy moved on. Cracking bit of work by those involved.

And to be honest it would seem we've even succeeded in an upgrade considering the relative CVs.

Smart job, folks.

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porterbelly
12/07/2011 19:19

Good move. Was worried Eric might have to take over the running of the backs, which wouldn't be a bad thing, but I'm not a fan of the head coach involved in a coaching role. Eric is very hands on as it is and think we'll benefit from another voice.

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The IMF
12/07/2011 21:54

Nice work! Sounds like a great signing for us. Would definately agree it looks like we have got a massive upgrade here. He was head coach of the Aus 7's team while Campese was his number 2 according to the link below. Have read a few things on him after doing a search, and sounds like he did a lot for Roberts and Halfpenny, so you couldn't really ask for more. Not that I was getting worried or anything about having a back's coach in our 1st HC season!!! With a bit of luck and time hopefully Billy will really settle in and the results will show for themselves on the pitch.


Billy Millard Interview 2008

Really agree with what he was saying about Robbie Deans as well, bearing in mind that was back in 2008. I am going to stick my neck out on the line here and say Australia will win the RWC. I'm probably just being brave after the Crusaders lost though in fairness.

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Eyre Wolfe
13/07/2011 14:17

Being in the HEC this season is a real draw , glad to see this new addition.

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