Source: Inpho

A Deserved Triumph for Simon Middleton

  • +1

It’s excellent news that Simon Middleton has won the award for World Rugby Coach of the Year.

He becomes the first manager of a women’s team to receive the accolade.

On the handful of occasions I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him, he has struck me as totally dedicated to his role, a friendly enthusiast, a deep thinker and a coach who covers all the bases.

He can be deadly serious about the things that matter, like the welfare of his players, and open and humorous when the opportunity beckons.

He has guided the Red Roses for the last six years to a position of eminence.

Critics will point all too readily to their favoured position as the only full-time professionals in women’s rugby. That may well be a position unique in the whole of world sport. But it brings with it huge extra burdens. Full-time devotion to the game involves full-time readiness to keep everyone occupied and happy with what they are doing.

Even his nearest equivalent, Annick Hayraud of France, sees her charges (who enjoy a semi-pro existence) for limited periods of time. He must be constantly on the go, introducing new training techniques and new game-strategies to avoid monotony.

He and his assistants, currently Scott Bemand and Louis Deacon, have been slowly building a squad of increasing quality. That in itself brings problems. His promise to establish ‘three of four world-class performers in every position’ means that large numbers of outstanding athletes will be left behind watching the World Cup on the television. It means too the squad all know that it’s results that count; they will be judged by personal performances. He has to keep a careful watch on individuals’ responses to setbacks.

During lockdown he worked tirelessly to ensure every member of the squad knew she was being well looked after.

He is a fine psychologist, able to pitch his many team-talks accurately to get the results he needs. He has used a leadership group to spread the load of decision-taking as widely as possible. ‘Fifteen captains on the pitch’ could sound like a version of anarchy, but the players have reacted admirably to the responsibilities they’ve been given.

Most England fans spend their time expecting their side to win every match, even if they keep their thoughts to themselves. With the unique advantages the current squad enjoys these expectations grow stronger. It’s up to the head coach to ensure they are not disappointed.

As we might expect, he shifts all the credit on to the shoulders of his players, of whom he is inordinately proud.

He has had to manage the whole process of contracts with extreme care. They cannot be dished out like children’s sweets. He and his staff have to be sure that their choices will pay dividends.

He has to keep all his charges in good humour, unaffected by the petty jealousies that could all too easily invade the environment. And he has to do the worst job of all, telling a player that her services are no longer required. That area has to be met with humanity.

In recent months news of disaffection by players of other nations and alleged neglect by their unions has blighted the women’s game.

Middleton has been outspoken about the need of other unions to follow the example of professionalism that the RFU has set. The Red Roses have been fortunate to avoid these misadventures, and much of the credit is due to the qualities of their head coach.