I’d like to take this opportunity in my first column of the season to welcome all you Canterbury fans back to Red and Black rugby. I’d also like to welcome Tabai Matson, Canterbury’s new assistant coach this season.

Tabs, who played 58 times for Canterbury and won 25 caps for the Crusaders, has a lot of talent and enthusiasm and I’m sure we’ll make a great team.

He and I are looking forward to coaching the team who will defend the title they won in that tough battle in Wellington last October. It was a magnificent team effort and will be extremely beneficial to the players’ development. We hope to see the results of that development this season.

Now of course we start from scratch again. We have already started training at Rugby Park in readiness for the season’s start – the first game is against North Harbour at Albany on Saturday, August 1.

We have two pre-season games scheduled – both away – against Southland in Invercargill on Friday, July 17, and Wellington at the Westpac Stadium on Friday, July 24.

Last week we named our 35-man squad, which has George Whitelock as captain.

We will again have a young squad this season, but it will have a good mix of experience in there too.

For last season’s final in Wellington, out of the 22 in the squad, a dozen were aged 23 or under. There will be some new faces this season but we expect them to make their mark and quickly show their talent, as is the Canterbury way.

Once again, we’re looking forward to your support.

Rob Penney, Canterbury Head Coach

It’s great to be back at Canterbury after a stint playing and coaching overseas.

After playing for Canterbury and the Crusaders I played for Brive in France in 1998-2000, London Irish in 2000-01 and Yamaha in Japan in 2001-06 (also head coach).

My other coaching roles have included an assistant’s role with the University of Queesland in 2006 and I was head coach of the Gold Coast Breakers 2007-08 during which time the team made the semi-final.

My family and I are settling in Christchurch well after our recent stay on the Gold Coast and I have to say the weather here isn’t too bad so far!

I watched Canterbury’s success last season and was very impressed. I am looking forward immensely to working with these young guys.

We are looking at bringing in some new ideas and that is something I can offer straight away – a fresh eye and a new way of looking at things.

I’m looking forward to the challenge!

Tabai Matson, Canterbury Assistant Coach

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