Friday for Eagles Sevens

Former England and Kenya Sevens coach Mike Friday has been appointed as the new USA Eagles Sevens head coach.

Friday will work alongside National Development Director for Eagles Sevens Alex Magleby and Assistant Coach Chris Brown while continuing his duties at London Scottish.

Friday and Brown will implement a new training regiment for the Eagles Sevens program at the Olympic Training Centre in Chula Vista, Calif. This will replicate the programme the two put in place as head coach and assistant coach, respectively, of the Kenya Sevens national team during the 2012-13 IRB Sevens World Series circuit.

Friday and Brown improved the team’s 12th-place 2011-12 finish to fifth in just one season. Kenya also reached the third-place match at IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013.

As head coach of the England Sevens team from 2002 to 2006, Friday won four consecutive Hong Kong Sevens Cups – a feat no team has managed since – and back-to-back Dubai Sevens and London Sevens titles.

In all, Friday won 11 Cups during his time with England and led the team to its only medal at a Commonwealth Games in 2006. He also represented and captained his country on the circuit as a player.

“I am naturally delighted and excited about the challenge of returning to the IRB World Sevens circuit and starting a new Sevens journey with the USA Eagles,” Friday said.

“The programme will be run much like how I implemented the successful performance cycle program in the past, which will allow me the ability to continue in my role as director of rugby at London Scottish.

“I am fortunate to have both the full support of London Scottish and the USA Eagles and look forward to an exciting season ahead for both club and country.”