GAME CHANGER: Liam Barry Named Head Coach of Australia Men’s 7s!
Rugby Australia has announced Liam Barry as the new head coach of the Australian Men’s Sevens team.
Liam Barry, 53, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Australian Men’s Sevens team, taking over from John Manenti, who stepped down from the role in August. Barry brings over 30 years of experience in professional rugby, both as a player and coach.
As a player, Barry represented the All Blacks from 1993 to 1995 before continuing his career in Japan with NEC and Kubota. After transitioning into coaching in 2016, he became the coaching director for New Zealand’s Sevens programs. He later served as an assistant coach for the All Black Sevens from 2017 to 2022. Most recently, Barry held a leadership role at High Performance Sport New Zealand, focusing on high-performance development.
Speaking about his new role, Barry expressed his excitement for the future of the team: “I’m thrilled to take the team into the next cycle following their success at the Paris Olympics,” he said. “It’s a fantastic foundation to build on, and credit must go to John and the management for their efforts in the previous cycle. My aim isn’t to reinvent the wheel, but to build on the solid base already in place. The players are fit, fast, and skilled, and I look forward to working with them.”
Peter Horne, Director of High Performance at Rugby Australia, welcomed Barry’s appointment: “We’re excited to have Liam join Australian Rugby as Head Coach of our Men’s Sevens team. His proven success in winning environments, alongside his passion for developing young talent, aligns perfectly with our goals,
” Horne said. “Our Men’s Sevens team delivered their best-ever Olympic result in August and are consistently one of the top teams on the global stage. We believe Liam is the perfect fit to forge a strong and successful future for the team.”
The Australian Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams will kick off their 2024/2025 season in Dubai on November 30, with final squad selections to be confirmed closer to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series opener.
