Barford to Coach Old White

Posted in: Division I
By Aaron Williams
Feb 5, 2010 - 3:13:20 PM

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Atlanta Old White Rugby Football Club announced Friday that USA Rugby veteran Paule Barford will be its new head coach.

Barford has been involved in rugby for more than 40 years.

Prior to accepting the Old White position, he had been the coach of the USA Rugby South senior squad and coach of Rugby East and the ERU U23s.

He is a USA Rugby Coach Development Program course leader and is a certified PCA course instructor. Barford is also certified as an IRB course instructor.

He has served as manager of the Hawks in the North America 4 and was an NA4 Commissioner. Barford has also been instrumental in coaching the Alpharetta Phoenix Club, the top U20 club in Georgia.

Barford has been charged with leading both the Division I and II sides by establishing overall skill and fitness objectives, and plans on building the most competitive sides with a staff of assistant coaches.

"We are excited for Paule to come in and take over the coaching duties for Old White," said Old White board president Glenn Bunker.

"We wanted to get someone with national experience who knows what it takes to play at the highest level. Fortunately, we found Paule in our own backyard. Old White is committed to becoming one of the best teams in the nation, and we are confident having a coach of Barford's caliber on board will help us achieve that."

The coaching change will come just in time for the most important matrix matches for Old White's Division I and II squads.

Coming on the heels of back-to-back losses to national power Life University, Old White's Division I side will play rival Atlanta Renegades on Feb. 20 in an important contest for both clubs.

Old White's Division II squad travels to Huntsville on Feb. 13 for its second matrix match of the season.

Barford will take over for interim coaches Kevin Warde and Martin O'Donoghue, who replaced former coach (and current scrumhalf) Riaan Kotze late in 2009.


Virgin Atlantic