Emirates Western Force Team Management

JOHN MITCHELL – Head Coach

One of only three New Zealanders to have played for, captained and coached the All Blacks, the inaugural Head Coach of the Emirates Western Force is entering his fourth campaign at the helm of Australian Rugby’s newest Super 14 outfit. John played 134 games for Waikato (86 of them as captain) and won an NPC and Ranfurly Shield, whilst representing his country on six occasions. John was a player/coach at Sale and assisted Clive Woodward’s England before returning to New Zealand to coach the Waikato Chiefs and later the All Blacks, where he enjoyed a success rate of 86% and won back the Bledisloe Cup.  

JOHN MULVIHILL – Backs Coach

A Queensland and New South Wales flyhalf, John played for the Australian Under 21s in 1987 and Australian Barbarians, before switching codes to join the Balmain Tigers rugby league club for three seasons. Better known as “Mulvers,” John was the founding captain of the Gold Coast Breakers and later worked as the Youth Development Officer for the Irish Rugby Union, and played and coached at Irish club, Navan. He is an inaugural member of the Emirates Western Force coaching staff, and was Head Coach of the ET Perth Spirit in the Mazda Australian Rugby Championships in 2007.

TOM FEARN – Skill Development Coach

Tom came to WA in 1988 having represented Whanganui in New Zealand’s National Provincial Championship over five seasons. He won six premierships as a player, and two as a coach, with Nedlands and also represented WA over eight years. He coached the State team in 2001 and later coached Wests Subiaco to three consecutive premierships before becoming an inaugural member of the Emirates Western Force coaching team.

DARYL HALLIGAN – Kicking Coach

Daryl played rugby for Waikato before switching to rugby league and becoming, at the time of his retirement, the NRL points scoring record holder (2,034 points). He played a total of 230 games for the North Sydney Bears and the Canterbury Bulldogs, kicking 855 goals, four field goals and scoring 80 tries. He also represented the New Zealand Kiwis on 29 occasions. He has been engaged as a kicking coach by the All Blacks and a number of NRL clubs including the Storm and the Bulldogs. Daryl has also advised Newcastle Knights great Andrew Johns and All Blacks flyhalves Andrew Mehrtens and Daniel Carter.

HAYDN MASTERS –Sports Science Manager

Heading up Australian Rugby’s best strength and conditioning program, Haydn has a Masters degree in Sports Science and has previously worked for the North Sydney Bears and London Broncos rugby league clubs. He joined the Emirates Western Force in 2005 from the Australian Rugby Union’s High Performance Unit, and now occupies the role of Sports Science Manager, with responsibility for strength and conditioning, medical and sports science. Haydn, or “H” as he is better known, grew up in Manly and has competed at national level in surf lifesaving.

MARK de CRUZ – Team Doctor

Mark has worked with the Emirates Western Force since 2007 as assistant team doctor and recently took on the role of team doctor following the departure of Peter Steele. Born in Singapore and raised in Perth, Mark has previously worked with the Collingwood Football Club and the English Netball team and still holds positions with the West Coast Fever and the Kookaburras (Australian Men’s Hockey Team). A true character within the team management, Mark studied Medicine at UWA (specialising in Sports Medicine) and works at Sportsmed Subiaco.

ROB NAISH – Head Physiotherapist

Rob joined the Emirates Western Force in 2005 after four seasons as head physiotherapist at English club, Saracens. Born in Wellington, Rob represented NZ Schoolboys in soccer and graduated from the Auckland Institute of Technology. He worked for the Auckland Under 19s and Bay of Plenty Under 19s and Under 21s before completing a Masters degree at the University of Queensland. He has also worked in rugby league with the London Broncos. During the Pacific Nations Cup, Rob was physiotherapist coordinator with Australia A.

RICHARD TREND – Team Manager

Before joining RugbyWA, Richard was a senior mathematics teacher for 34 years including head of the department at City Beach and Churchlands Senior High Schools. He played rugby for 30 years with the Associates club and coached for more than 20 at school, club and State level. Richard held numerous administrative positions with Associates including President. He was also heavily involved in youth and coach development at both club and state level and holds level three coach accreditation. ‘Trendo’ as he is better known, was made a life member of RugbyWA in 2007.

SCOTT ANDERSON - Performance Analyst

Scott graduated from the University of WA with an Honours degree in Human Movement before moving to Tasmania to start a business in exercise rehabilitation, and lecture at the University of Tasmania. The man they call “The Giz” spent one year at the Australian Institute of Sport then four years at the Brumbies before returning home to join the Emirates Western Force in June 2005.

GEOFF TOWNSEND – Academy Head Coach

Geoff joined RugbyWA in January 2008 as Academy Head Coach. He came to Perth with more than 20 years of experience across all levels of rugby in Australia, Japan and the USA. Geoff was first grade coach for Sydney club Southern Districts from late 2004 to 2006 and coached Manly first grade in 2000. He also spent three years in Japan, at Kobe Steel and Teikyo University clubs, and was NSW Under 19s coach from 1997-99. The former first grade flanker with Port Hacking also assists in succession planning at the Emirates Western Force, and provides set piece advice.