Zebre forward hangs up playing boots to take coaching role

NEWS: United Rugby Championship side Zebre has announced that David Sisi has quit playing immediately and will assume the duties as lineout coach for the next two seasons.

This comes after the announcement that assistant coach Joshua Syms will vacate his position as forwards coach to return to his home country New Zealand due to unforeseen family needs.

Athletes, managers and staff thanked Syms for his commitment and contribution towards the club and wished him and his family their best wishes and support.

“I loved the time I spent at Zebre,” said Syms .

“I will always be grateful for the experience, relationships and friendships I built during my time in Parma. I am also grateful for the support that the club has provided me during this difficult period for my family. I am sure that the future of the club will be bright. I wish the players and staff the best for the 2024/25 season”.

New lineout and forwards coach David Sisi also gave his thoughts on his new role:

“Continuing the excellent work that Josh [Syms] has done so far is a great responsibility and a new challenge that I embrace with pleasure and enthusiasm,” said Sisi.

He added: “The decision to stop playing was not an easy one, but I am very happy to continue working with this group of athletes with whom I have shared so much. Over the course of my career I have gained a long and diversified experience at an international level,”

“I have worked with many great coaches from the Premiership, the URC and the National team and I feel I can continue to offer my contribution to the group. My passion for Zebre is strong, I thank the club for their trust. As a player, I have given so much, but now I want to leave my mark as a coach too”. he concluded

Zebre Sporting Director Franco Tonni also shared his thoughts on the change in structure:

“Having learned of the forced termination of the collaboration with Josh Syms, we identified David Sisi as the figure who could continue the technical and human path that Josh had already started,” said Tonni.

“David loves and knows the lineout area very well, we are happy to have found his consensus and his enthusiasm for this new challenge,”

“We approach the new season with a staff composed of three new and competent figures. We trust in a future that will increasingly feed on internal skills to strengthen and speed up the identity process that we need.”he added.