AUSTRALIAN international sevens fullback Brenton Fielke has taken over as first team coach at Maidenhead Rugby Club.
Fielke, 35, has been living in the UK for several years, having retired from playing and coaching four years ago to concentrate on his career as an occupational
therapist.
However, now established as a department services manager at Wexham Park Hospital, Fielke has been tempted out of retirement to lead next season’s promotion campaign at Braywick.
In his playing career, Fielke represented Queensland in the Dubai International Sevens and Australia in the Hong Kong Sevens.
He has also represented his country in an Emerging Wallabies side.
Most of his club rugby was played in Brisbane, but he also spent some time with Perth Western Suburbs, where he qualified and worked as an Australian Rugby Union Level 2 coach.
Club chief executive Simon Edwards was in no doubt Fielke was the right man for the job.
He said: “I’m excited. He’s a clean broom.
“Every player from top to bottom has an opportunity in pre-season training to impress the new coach. Then he will make his own decisions.
“Let’s be in no doubt, we want promotion. It’s not life or death financially for the club, but I believe the club is too big to wallow in South West 2.
“I’m very keen, as is the rest of the committee, to get promotion this term.”
Chairman of rugby Richard Christian was also upbeat about the appointment, hoping Fielke would bring a new culture to Braywick.
He said: “We wanted a new coach to take a fresh look at the squad.
“We need to create a new culture at Maidenhead, with everyone competing for their place in the first team.
“There’s no doubt some players in the past have been picked on reputation rather than performance. And that has to change.”
Last season’s coach Tony Brooks decided to step down last month, due to heavy, ongoing work commitments.
However, it is anticipated that the former Rosslyn Park No.8 will continue to play a role at the club, perhaps helping Fielke to coach the forwards.