Eagles confirm stellar 2025 coaching line-up led by Robbie Coleman

A new era in Gungahlin Eagles history begins, under the guise of Director of Rugby – Glenn Carey and 1^st Grade Head Coach – Robbie Coleman.

The coaching list for 2025 is now set, with a stack of international and professional playing and coaching experience that will drastically enhance the prospects of individual development and team success.

New Head Coach Robbie Coleman is no stranger to the top level of rugby. He’s played 90 Super Rugby matches for the Brumbies and Western Force, including being part of the Brumbies squad that won the Australian conference in 2013 and 2014, and he was the Brumbies top try scorer in 2015.

His experience also spans across to Europe playing professionally in France and England, before returning to Canberra to commence a career in coaching and player development.

Robbie was the Eagles’ 1^st Grade Assistant Coach (Backs) in 2024, helping them become a dangerous and high scoring backline. Robbie will also continue to lead the club’s Academy and pathways system.

Club President Trent Pollard is ecstatic to see someone of Robbie’s stature slot in to the Head Coach role.

He says “The Eagles have a proven record of helping players progress to the professional and international level, and to have someone coaching and developing our players who understands what it takes to play at that level is huge”

“What stands out to me about Robbie is that he’s a family man with tremendous values; everyone knows him to be a great person. I look forward to seeing Robbie build on his role as an assistant coach from last season and develop a deeper connection with the playing group to take them to the finals and challenge for the John I Dent Cup”

Coleman is determined to have an immediate impact in the role and is full of confidence as we head into the 2025 preseason.

He says “The Eagles as club have made me feel like family from day one and I could not be more grateful for the opportunity to coach at this great club”

“My self and the other great coaches we have on board will make sure we provide the best environment for players of all levels to get what they want out of their rugby and most important enjoy it while doing so.”

Malietoa ‘Mali’ Hingano arrived at the Eagles in 2024 as a seasoned pro and damaging centre. Having played for Tonga through 2019 – 2021, including the Rugby World Cup played in Japan, Mali will be invaluable as our 1^st Grade Assistant Coach (Backs).

As a player, Mali dominated the Shute Shield, the top French and Japanese rugby competitions (Top 14 & Top League), and the NRC. As a coach, Mali is also the Tongan Women’s Assistant Coach.

Matt Hawke needs no introduction to the Eagles’ faithful; a 200+ game 1^st Grade player, a John I Dent Cup winning captain, and the eponym of the 1^st Grade Player’s Player award.

His experience goes beyond the Eagles, being involved in the Brumbies set up and also playing in the English Championship, Scottish Championship and the NRC.

Hawkey will take on the role of 1^st Grade Assistant Coach (Defence), which is fitting, given he never missed a tackle in his career.

Front rowers rejoice – what an unbelievable crew this will be coaching and mentoring our set piece in 2025!

Patricio Noriega Junior is a club legend, having played for the Eagles for a number of years and being 1^st Grade skipper in the early-mid 2010s. A weapon Loose Head Prop that dominated the Shute Shield – winning the Randwick Best & Fairest in 2012.

Pato Junior will take on the role of 1^st Grade Assistant Coach (Scrum).

Pato’s father Ernesto Patricio Noriega Senior is a globally renowned rugby figure. He played 49 tests for Argentina and Australia, and was a foundation Brumby eventually earning 70 Super Rugby caps with the Brumbies and Waratahs.

Pato Senior has coached the Wallabies (Assistant Coach), Brumbies (Scrum Coach) and was the head coach of French club Racing 92. He will be working closely with our coaches and tight 5 players as Club Forwards Performance Advisor.

Eagles’ Director of Rugby Glenn Carey is certain that the club’s playing group will benefit greatly from this all-star coaching lineup.

“As far as club rugby coaching lineups go, this one is pretty stacked. Robbie is going to be well supported by these guys who bring a great mix of professional and international experience, as well as a strong connection to the Eagle’s history and DNA – all of them have played professionally and for the Eagles”

“Our playing roster in 2025 will have a fairly young profile, so for this coaching team its every bit about developing individuals as it is team success, and we’re confident this group will deliver both”

The rest of the club’s senior teams will also benefit from an immaculate list of great coaches:

These men have been a cornerstone of the Eagles coaching lineup for a number of years now, with all of them coaching their respective teams in 2024 and having exceptional relationships with the players.

Our Women’s program will look to go one step further next year under club favourite son and incumbent Head Coach, Darragh O’Byrne, who led the Women’s team to 2^nd spot in the Premier 15s competition.

Darragh, a great, menacing back row player for the Eagles back in his day, has worked exceptionally hard to build a strong connection and love of the game with a core playing group, and we look forward to seeung them go deep into the 2025 season.

Stuart Crew has already given so much to the Eagles as a player and volunteer. He’s won premierships and individual awards, including Player of the Finals Series, countless team B&Fs and Most Consistent, and in 2023 he was the Club Person of the Year.

After being an assistant coach for our Women’s and 2nd Grade sides over the years, and being the inaugural Eagles Academy coach, we are delighted to see him step into the role of 2nd Grade Head Coach.

Our Colts program will look to hit the ground running after taking out the premiership in 2024. Nick Edwards, with the support of our other coaches, will take on another strong intake of Colts-aged players and look to develop them into genuine 1^st Graders and prepare them for higher honours.

Nick has been working hard with Robbie and our S&C Coach Adam Rummery, on delivering the 2024 itteration of the Gungahlin Eagles Academy, which will role into preseason training next week.

The Red Squad are in safe hands with the existing coaching duo of club favourites, Nick Hutchison and Leroy O’Sullivan. Nick will notch up 150 caps as an Eagles coach in 2025, and Leroy will continue to work with a mix of new and old players to make finals for a third season in a row. They will be supported by Glenn Carey as the Red Squad Backs Coach.

1^st Grade Coach Robbie Coleman is delighted to have the coaching roster taking its final shape and can’t wait to hit the grass with the crew.

“Our club exists for players to enjoy rugby and get the most out of themselves on the park, but it wouldn’t be possible without dedicated and capable coaches”

“I can safely say that no matter what grade a player lands in on a Saturday in 2025, they know that they’ll be led by a committed and knowledgeable coach that wants to see them enjoy rugby, improve week-to-week, play finals and win trophies”

“It’s going to be a great year – I can’t wait to hit the grass”

Preseason will officially commence on Tuesday 26 November for a 4 week training block that wraps up with our annual Christmas Gift Giving BBQ event on Tuesday 17 December. 

We will return for whole of club training from Tuesday 28 January as we prepare for Trial games and the season to likely commence on 12 April.