'Match made in heaven': John Dobson gets new coaching gig
NEWS: Stormers Director of Rugby John Dobson will be heading to England later this year for a coaching gig.
On Friday, the Barbarians confirmed that Dobson and Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam will take charge of the invitational side against the All Blacks XV.
The match will take place at the Brentford Community Stadium on November 1.
According to Barbarians president John Spencer, Dobson and Lam “are coaches who embody everything the Barbarians stand for – innovation, attacking intent, and a passion for bringing players together from around the world.”
This will be Dobson’s first time coaching the BaaBaas.
“It’s a huge honour to be joining the Barbarians for this match against the All Blacks XV,” said Dobson.
“I was only a few years old when my dad started replaying the famous 1973 game between the BaaBaas and New Zealand for me to watch, and growing up in South Africa – where we’re known for playing a traditional, physical style of rugby – the BaaBaas have always been the zenith of how rugby should be played.
“They play beautiful rugby, and the team has a mysticism about it in South Africa. It is very special, so for me to be involved now is brilliant.
“I am really looking forward to working with Pat, too. I watched what he did with Connacht, and now Bristol Bears are always one of the teams we look at, in terms of how they play and how they set up their attack.
“We have a similar mindset at the Stormers; we always want to entertain. So, working with Pat and the Barbarians, given how we all approach the game, it should be a match made in heaven.
“Professional rugby can feel very serious at times. I think it’s important to treat everybody fantastically, have a lot of fun, and connect – and if you do that, it can trump the technical and physical stuff.
“That’s what the Barbarians always do; they come together against teams that have been together for a long time and do something extraordinary.”
The Barbarians will face the All Blacks XV for only the second time.
In 2022, with Scott Robertson in charge, they edged the All Blacks XV 35-31 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
