North Harbour Rays Media Release –

The North Harbour Rays will announce a new coaching structure for the inaugural National Rugby Championship (NRC) season by the end of the week.

The move follows Phil Blake’s acceptance of a coaching opportunity with European powerhouse, the Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership, the English first division.

Blake will finish the season with the Manly Marlins in the Shute Shield as they strive for their first premiership since 1987 (under Tim Lane), but will continue to play a role in the preparations for the start of the NRC on August 23, 2014.

“In many ways this is what the North Harbour Rays and the NRC is all about – giving players and coaches the opportunity to showcase their skills,” Rays Chairman Gary Flowers said.

“We’d have loved to have had Phil on board for the (NRC) ride but he’s always wanted to test his skills further up and that’s exactly what Leicester have presented him and we wish him well.

“The NRC and the Rays will always be a springboard to bigger and better opportunities for our players and coaches and that’s exactly what has happened in this case.”

Blake said the opportunity to coach at Leicester was just too good to pass up.

“I can honestly say that I am torn about heading to the UK but to be able to coach in the UK and experience competitions like the Heineken Cup could not be passed up,” Blake said.

“The Rays have a sound structure in place and I am sure the transition to the new coaching structure will be seamless.

“I will be staying in touch with the boys from Welford Rd (Leicester’s famous home ground) hoping that they can bring home some silverware first time through.”

Flowers stressed that the revamped coaching structure will come from within the Rays’ four member clubs, Gordon, Manly, Northern Suburbs and Warringah, in line with the franchise charter.

Blake was announced as head coach last month along with a coaching team of Scott Fava (Northern Suburbs), Geoff Townsend (Gordon) and Haig Sare (Warringah).

Other team support positions are in the process of being worked out but will be in place long before the start of the NRC season on August 23, 2014.

The Rays will hold an historic induction and information day at Macquarie University on Sunday, June 8, 2014, where many of the team protocols and commitments will be outlined to a Rays development squad.