Kevin Sinfield’s journey from rugby league to England defence coach is, by now, a route well travelled. Admittedly Brett Hodgson’s tenure was remarkably brief but the records now show Sinfield is the third in a row to make it. With Andy Farrell guiding Ireland to No 1 in the world, Shaun Edwards making such an impact with France and Mike Forshaw recruited by Wales, this is shaping up to be a Six Nations defined by coaches whose careers began in the other code.
At first glance it is a trend traced to the north-west of England but it is one that might never have happened without a chance encounter in Hawaii between the San Francisco 49ers and an Australian known as “Supercoach”. The coach in question was Jack Gibson, renowned for his success with the Parramatta Eels in Australian rugby league in the early 1980s – around the time the “Invincible” Kangaroos swept all before them under Frank Stanton.
