What is simon easterby?

Simon Easterby

Simon Easterby is a former Irish rugby union player and current coach. He is best known for his playing career as a lock and flanker and his subsequent coaching roles, particularly with the Irish national team.

• Playing Career: Easterby played professionally for Llanelli Scarlets, representing them over 150 times. He also earned 65 caps for Ireland between 2000 and 2008. He captained the Irish team on multiple occasions, including during the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was known for his work rate, leadership, and versatility in the pack.

• Coaching Career: After retiring from playing, Easterby transitioned into coaching.

  • He initially coached at Llanelli Scarlets, working as a defense coach.
  • He then joined the Irish national team coaching setup. He served as the forwards coach for Ireland, playing a significant role in developing the Irish pack's strength and set-piece prowess. His responsibilities generally included overseeing the scrum, lineout, and general forward play.
  • His specific roles and responsibilities have varied over time within the Irish setup, but his expertise lies in the forwards and breakdown areas.

• Key Areas of Expertise: His key areas of expertise in coaching include:

  • Forwards%20Play: Developing and implementing forward strategies.
  • Set%20Piece (Scrum and Lineout): Improving the efficiency and effectiveness of the scrum and lineout.
  • Breakdown: Coaching players on techniques for winning and retaining possession at the breakdown.
  • Defense: Whilst earlier in his career he held defence coach roles, he is more recently recognised for his forwards expertise.

• Impact: Easterby has been viewed as a significant contributor to the success of the Irish national team during his tenure as a coach, particularly in improving the forward pack.