By Stu Piddington

Former front rower Nigel Walsh has been appointed South Canterbury Heartland rugby head coach.

A delighted Walsh said it was a dream come true to be put in charge of a team he played for on more than 70 occasions.

"I am rapt, I am really looking forward to the challenge."

Walsh said since he first started coaching 20 years ago, he had wanted the opportunity to coach his old team.

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He has already served his Heartland apprenticeship after being in charge of North Otago for the past two seasons.

Walsh however is best known as Celtic's successful senior coach, taking it to four Hamersley Cup crowns, as South Canterbury senior club champions.

He has been given a two-year contract after impressing the appointment panel.

South Canterbury Rugby Union chief executive Craig Calder said the board were delighted that Walsh had accepted the role.

"Nigel has a quintessential alignment with South Canterbury Rugby having played over 70 games for the province and he was the coach of the winning Celtic senior Hamersley Cup team for four years."

Calder said Walsh also had plenty of experience with the New Zealand Marist team and North Otago.

"The interview panel were impressed with Nigel's credentials, his resilient leadership style and his passion for the green and black jersey.

"We had a number of high calibre overseas applicants, however the union was determined to appoint a successful, qualified local coach.

"It's a new era and we are all excited what lays ahead of the 2019 Heartland under the guidance of Nigel."

Incumbent Barry Matthews had resigned after a successful four years which included twice making the Meads Cup final.

Walsh said he was delighted to be given the opportunity.

"It will be about trying to build on where we are now. Ratty [Matthews] and Mac [former assistant coach Grant McFarlane] have done a fantastic job and I have to take my hat off to them.

"I think it is an exciting time to come in. It's a big challenge but I am up for it.

"I would love for South Canterbury to get their hands on the [Meads] cup."

Walsh said he will be finalising his assistant coach and management team by the end of the week.

"We just need to get together and sort a couple of things out."

Walsh, 49, has been coaching since 1999 after a neck injury cut his front row career short. He missed out on the head coach role to Matthews last time around and was seen by many as the natural successor.

"It will be great to give something back to South Canterbury rugby after all the support I received while playing."

Walsh said he would be straight into work.

"It will be about finding out who is around [next season] and who isn't. There are lots of pieces to the puzzle."

Walsh said he would also like to thank North Otago for the opportunity they gave him.

"I enjoyed it immensely and was given the chance to learn the ropes, so I am grateful."

Article added: Tuesday 11 December 2018