He might have hung up his rugby boots but Dave Coupe is keen to keep his connection to the sport he’s passionate about.
Dave has been passing on his knowledge of the game to the next generation of players as a volunteer coach.
And he picked up some valuable tips on Saturday when he met an ex-Highlanders player John Leslie at Upper Hutt.
John, a former Scotland international, is touring the country visiting rugby clubs and local parks with a new series of free workshops for volunteer rugby coaches throughout New Zealand.
Dave, who coaches Heretaunga College’s 1st XV, says attending John’s workshop was a valuable experience.
“I’m relatively new at coaching so it’s good to get as much help as I possibly can.”
Dave, who is the caretaker at Upper Hutt’s Pinehaven School, says the coaching session gave him a lot to think about.
“It was a really good morning. I found John was really good and clear with the information he gave us.
“The coaching session has given me some more ideas and I can put my own spin on them.”
CrestClean is partnering John to provide 50 training events. The skills clinics and a comprehensive training manual are offered at no cost to participants.
Junior rugby suffers from a lack of trained coaches – but no shortage of keen people who want to give it a go.
“I wanted to give something back,” says Dave. “I’m too old to play now. My heart would like to play but my body doesn’t like it.
“So I thought, if I can’t play I might as well give some of my knowledge back to the kids.”
John’s free coaching workshops are back in the Wellington area this weekend.
Saturday – 14th April – Wairarapa Coaching Workshop
Time: 9.00am
Venue: Gladstone RFC
Location: 576 Gladstone Road R D 2 Carterton
Saturday – 14th April – Wairarapa Coaching Workshop 2
Time: 12.00pm
Venue: Memorial Park
Location: Dixon St, Masterton
Sunday – 15th April – Wellington Coaching Workshop
Time: 9.00am
Venue: Wellington Football Club
Location: Haitaitai Park, Wellington
Sunday – 15th April – Tawa Coaching Workshop
Time: 11.00am
Venue: Tawa rugby club
Location: 21 Lyndhurst Rd, Tawa
Sunday – 15th April – Hutt Valley Coaching Workshop
Time: 1.00pm
Venue: Hutt Recreation Ground
Location: Lower Hutt 5010
