Top Catt: The serendipitous jog that helped the Waratahs stage a coaching coup

Waratahs to announce Darren Coleman to coach Super Rugby team next season

Coleman was one of four contenders to coach the NSW team but it was a jog that sealed the deal.

The Waratahs will announce Darren Coleman as their new coach on Monday after a serendipitous Sunday morning jog helped him seal the deal.

Coleman was one of four contenders to coach the NSW team next season but it was a jog with Waratahs powerbrokers that convinced them he was the right man for the job.

Coleman bumped into Waratahs chief executive Paul Doorn and board member Lachlan McKay while they were having a coffee at a cafe in Sydney’s east on Sunday morning.

The trio got chatting and, after Coleman expressed his interest in the Waratahs job, Doorn and McKay invited him to join them for a walk along the nearby beach.

During the walk, Coleman impressed Doorn and McKay with his knowledge of the game, his passion for the Waratahs and his vision for the team’s future.

Doorn said the jog was a “great opportunity” for Coleman to sell himself and his vision for the Waratahs.

“Darren was very impressive,” Doorn said.

“He has a great understanding of the game, he’s passionate about the Waratahs and he has a clear vision for the team’s future.”

Coleman said he was “excited” to be joining the Waratahs and was looking forward to the challenge of coaching the team.