North Harbour Rays Media Release - Former Western Force assistant coach and current Gordon club mentor Geoff Townsend will guide the North Harbour Rays through the inaugural National Rugby Championship season. The move follows Phil Blake’s acceptance last week of a coaching opportunity with European powerhouse, Leicester Tigers, in the Aviva Premiership, the English first division. Blake will finish the season with the Manly Marlins before heading to the northern hemisphere, but will continue to be a sounding board as preparations for the start of the NRC on August 23, 2014 hot up. The Rays’ coaching selection panel, which included Rod Macqueen, Peter Carson, Grahame O’Donnell and chairman Gary Flowers, moved quickly once Blake’s departure was confirmed and unanimously endorsed Townsend. Townsend is one of the best-credentialed coaches in the Shute Shield having mentored at Manly, in Japan, Southern Districts and now Gordon. [caption id="attachment_8751" align="alignright