Former All Black Tom Donnelly Joins Wallabies Coaching Staff

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Donnelly replaces former England lock Geoff Parling, who will return to Britain when Australia's series with the British & Irish Lions ends next week.

Donnelly made 15 Test appearances for the All Blacks in 2009-10 and played 65 games for the Highlanders between 2004-11. He played 19 times for the Crusaders in 2012-13 and 14 games for the Blues in 2014. He had three seasons in France with Montpellier and Aviron Bayonnais.

He moved into coaching as Otago's assistant NPC coach in 2017, before spending three years as head coach from 2020 to 2023.

He moved to Perth as an assistant coach with the Force earlier this year.

Donnelly said he is looking forward to the opportunity to contribute to the emerging side.

"Watching from afar, the journey the team is on, and the improvement they are making, is exciting.

"I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team."

Rugby Australia's director of high performance, Peter Horne, said, "Tom has spent the best part of the last 25 years involved in professional rugby and his expertise around the lineout and set piece will be highly valuable for the Wallabies.

"He's got a great understanding of the Super Rugby Pacific landscape as well as experience playing at the highest level which makes him a great fit for the role."

The Wallabies open their Rugby Championship in Johannesburg against South Africa on August 16. 

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