Latest news with #BenettonRugby
Irish Examiner
21-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Queensland Reds and Benetton join forces in unique partnership
Benetton Rugby and the Queensland Reds have announced a unique partnership which will see four Reds players join the Italian club on secondment. The partnership blossomed after an initial introduction through Wallabies great Michael Lynagh who won a championship with both the Reds in 1994 and Benetton Treviso in 1991-92. Josh Flook, John Bryant, Richie Asiata and Louis Werchon will temporarily transfer to the Treviso based club which will see the start of an exciting union between the two clubs. Over three months, the quartet will play in the United Rugby Championship. They will arrive in Italy in July and return in October meaning they will be free to play in the opening rounds of the URC in late September-October. They will remain eligible for international selection as a stipulation of the secondment. The partnership will see the Reds make a first trip to play Benetton in Treviso in November 2026. The game will be the first since 1980 that the Reds have played in Italy. The General Managers of Reds and Benetton Sam Cordingley and Antonio Pavanello began discussions in January in Treviso while the Reds were on a pre-season tour of Europe. 'The connection was made through Michael Lynagh. Right from the start, we have felt a genuine will to create opportunities that can benefit two proud clubs and two strong brands,' said Cordingley. 'Michael's history with Benetton Rugby and as a 100-game legend with the Reds makes this unique. Obviously, Michael's son Tom plays for the Reds and brother Louis plays for Benetton Rugby. 'In my conversations with Antonio, we have talked through all things URC and Benetton Rugby and where the needs and opportunities lie for both clubs. Mutual benefits will drive this partnership. 'The wonderful experiences through secondments like this will not only support player development, with more matches outside Super Rugby, but also retention. The players will also add depth in key positions at Benetton Rugby. 'We want to be a club that leverages the appeal of rugby as an international game through strong partnerships with Benetton Rugby and Japan's Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights, overseas tours and unique player-staff experiences. 'Rather than players leaving the club to experience chances like this, we are creating something unique while they are still Reds players with secondments at a famous club in a beautiful part of Italy. 'We hope to be creating fixtures and opportunities with Benetton Rugby long into the future.' Pavanello spoke abut a project that goes beyond just adding new players to the roster. "We are extremely proud to announce this partnership with a club of such historical and technical value as the Queensland Reds. "This collaboration represents an important step for us in an ambitious and long-term growth path. The arrival of four players from a prestigious competition like Super Rugby allows us to further raise the overall quality of our squad and measure ourselves against a dynamic, high-paced style of rugby, rich in technical content. "The integration will take place at a crucial moment in the season when the team will have to deal with the partial or total unavailability of international players due to their commitments and the mandatory rest periods that follow. "The addition of these four Australian profiles will help maintain a high level of squad depth and competition, strengthen various roles and ensure consistency at training and in matches." "This project goes far beyond simply adding players" Pavanello continued. "It is the shared vision to create an international rugby ecosystem capable of generating value, growth and new opportunities for players, staff and fans alike." 22-year-old Bryant is looking forward to expanding his wings with the new opportunity of playing rugby with the Italian side. 'I'm super excited. It's huge to get an opportunity with a major European club. 'I've been fortunate in my time at the Reds to have opportunities to play Wales, Tonga, tour for games against Bristol and Ulster and, recently, play the British and Irish Lions. 'It's awesome what the Reds are doing with more international opportunities. I'm glad to be part of it and it's going to be really cool playing at Benetton Rugby. 'I'm learning different skills and ways to play the game with these chances…and I love my pasta. I can't wait.'
The 42
12-05-2025
- Sport
- The 42
Former Connacht boss Pete Wilkins joins Benetton as attack coach
FORMER CONNACHT HEAD coach Pete Wilkins has been appointed as backs coach by Benetton on a three-year deal. Wilkins, who had been contracted as Connacht boss until 2026, departed the western province in April after a period of sick leave. Cullie Tucker took the reins while Wilkins was absent and remains Connacht's interim head coach. Englishman Wilkins, who joined Connacht in 2017, spent time steering the province's attack and, later, their defence, before ascending to the head coach's role following the departure of Andy Friend in 2022. He also joined Andy Farrell as an assistant coach on Ireland's 2022 summer tour of New Zealand. Advertisement 🆕 Il Benetton Rugby è felice di annunciare la nomina di Peter Wilkins come prossimo allenatore dell'attacco dei Leoni ✍️📄 Wilkins ricoprirà l'incarico dall'1 luglio 2025 al 30 giugno 2028 Leggi la notizia completa ➡️ #WeAreLions — Benetton Rugby 🦁 (@BenettonRugby) May 12, 2025 As first reported by Bernard Jackman on The 42′s Rugby Weekly Extra podcast last month, Londoner Wilkins will now guide Benetton's attack under new head coach Callum MacRae until at least the summer of 2028. Speaking of his move to Italy, the 45-year-old said: 'I am very happy and honoured to join Benetton Rugby and the wider Treviso rugby family. 'This move represents an exciting new chapter, both for my family and for my coaching career,' Wilkins added. 'I am very grateful to Antonio Pavanello and Calum MacRae for offering me this opportunity. I look forward to working closely with them, my new colleagues and the group of players to continue to grow Benetton Rugby and to develop the undoubted potential of this historic Italian club.' Antonio Pavanello, Benetton's general manager, added: 'We are very excited to welcome Peter Wilkins to our coaching staff. 'Together with Calum MacRae, we have conducted a careful assessment of the available profiles and we are convinced that Peter represents the ideal choice to lead and develop our attacking department in the coming years. 'His international experience is broad and varied: he has worked at the highest level in very different rugby contexts, from Australia to Ireland, where he recently had a key role in the leadership of Connacht Rugby. 'Peter not only covered the role of attack coach under Andy Friend, he has also gained important experience as a head coach, an element that we consider very valuable to enrich the comparison and the quality of the work of our entire technical staff. 'The Connacht attack, under his direction, has always expressed an effective, dynamic and modern game, characteristics that marry well with our vision and the future objectives of the team. 'We are happy that he has chosen Benetton Rugby to continue his career, certain that his contribution will make the difference in the growth of our team and in achieving the objectives we have set ourselves.'
Irish Examiner
12-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Former Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins joins Benetton as attack coach
Former Connacht head coach Pete Wilkins joins Benetton as their new attack coach on a three-year deal. Wilkins stepped down with immediate effect as head coach of Connacht last month following a period of sick leave. Wilkins held a variety of roles in his time with the Western province across his eight seasons stepping into the head coach role under Director of Rugby Andy Friend for the 2022/23 season before being appointed head coach with overall responsibility for the Professional team in 2023. Wilkins will join the Italian side for their preseason in July and will direct the operations of the Lions attack. "I am very happy and honoured to join Benetton Rugby and the extended family of Treviso rugby' said Wilkins on his move to the Italian side. "This move represents a new and exciting chapter, both for my family and for my coaching career. I am very grateful to Antonio Pavanello and Calum MacRae for offering me this opportunity: I look forward to working closely with them, my new colleagues and the group of players to continue to grow Benetton Rugby and to develop the undoubted potential of this historic Italian club." General manager of Benetton Antonio Pavanello is excited to welcome Wilkins to the club. "We are really excited to be able to welcome Peter Wilkins to our coaching staff. Together with Calum MacRae, we have conducted a careful evaluation of the available profiles and we are convinced that Peter represents the ideal choice to lead and develop our offensive department in the coming years. "His international experience is wide and articulated: he has worked at the highest level in very different rugby contexts, from Australia to Ireland, where he recently played a key role at the helm of Connacht Rugby. Peter, not only held the role of offensive coach in the Andy Friend period, has also gained an important background as a head coach, an element that we consider very valuable to enrich the comparison and the quality of the work of our entire technical staff. "The Connacht attack, under his direction, has always expressed an effective, dynamic and modern game, characteristics that go well with our vision and with the future goals of the team. We are happy that he has chosen Benetton Rugby to continue his career, certain that his contribution will make a difference in the growth of our team and in achieving the goals we have set ourselves. "Finally, I would like to point out that in the next few days we will announce the definition of the technical staff and its components,"
