McGahan’s Team Nears Completion

The announcement last Tuesday at the Maryborough House Hotel of the appointment of Laurie Fisher as Munster Forwards coach, firmly ticked one of the boxes that remained open in Tony McGahan’s coaching staff.

Fisher, who was coach to the ACT Brumbies for the past number of seasons succeeds another Brumbies man, Jim Williams, and he (Fisher)  returned to Australia the following day to put his affairs in order before returning to take up his new role alongside McGahan.

McGahan also confirmed at the media briefing on Wednesday that once his countryman returned they would sit down and see what was needed to complement their coaching staff with a coaching role envisagd for current Video Analyst Jason Holland and also an involvement for Munster most capped player, Anthony Foley.

Meet Tony McGahan

A teacher teacher by profession he was educated in St Josephs Nudgee College – where he later returned to teach PE, Geography, Health Education –  and Queensland University of Technology where he qualified with a Batchelor of Education degree majoring in Physical Education.

He played Rugby Union (inside centre) with St Joseph’s Nudgee College 1st XV, Queensland Schoolboys followed by two seasons (99/00) with Districts Grade A.

He played Rugby League (number 9) with Queensland U16 and U19s, with Australian Universities and two seasons with the Brisbane Broncos (professional).

He was a Physical Education teacher at Nudgee College (1996-2000) followed by a similar role 2001-2004 teaching Physical Education in the Anglican Church Grammar School in Brisbane (2001-2004) preceded his move to full time professional coaching when he moved to Japan where he was Head Coach to the IBM side in the Japanese East League (winners).

That coaching started career with St Joseph’s Nudgee College 1st XV (1996 -2000), Anglican Church Grammar (2001-20030 ), Australian ‘A’ Schoolboys in 2003 and then he was appointed Coaching Co-Ordinator to the Australian Under 19 World Cup squad (2004).

In February 2005 he took up the role of Munster Defence coach when Graham Steadman was seconded to the national side and the following season his role with Munster expanded to Defence/Backs/Skills Coach.