Head coach Craig Hammond has been rewarded with a brand new two-year deal for the regular enchancment Nottingham have proven beneath his management.
In his 4 seasons on the helm, Nottingham have completed tenth, ninth, eighth and are at present seventh within the Championship, regardless of having one of many smaller budgets within the league.
As soon as described by former participant Ben Thompson as having achieved “extra for town of Nottingham than Robin Hood”, Hammond is proving equally impactful on the membership as he was as a participant.
The previous New Zealand U19 worldwide performed 289 video games within the again row for Nottingham between 2001 and 2012, and was captain in all however 12 of them, and in addition spent a while on mortgage at Leicester Tigers.
A legend of the Championship, Hammond has given his all to a well-known membership that has persistently punched above its weight at any time when he has been concerned.
“Ever since he came to visit to Nottingham from New Zealand as a 21-year-old, Craig has had the most important affect on this membership as each a participant and a coach,” stated Director of Rugby Simon Beatham, who signed him all these years in the past.
“He has created a squad that everybody is happy with, the best way they conduct themselves on and off the pitch.
“Craig represents the whole lot we wish to be as a membership.”
Hammond spent eight years as a participant and coach in Hong Kong after leaving Nottingham. He obtained his first head coach function with South China Tigers within the short-lived Speedy Rugby competitors and was then made head coach of the Hong Kong males’s nationwide group, earlier than being persuaded again to the place he calls house.
“We’re blissful right here, myself, Rosey, Mia, Bella and Lockie; we’re in a superb place as a household and we see Nottingham as our house,” stated Hammond, who’s now contracted till at the least 2027.
“As a coach, you’ll be able to’t flip down alternatives like this. It was a no brainer actually as soon as I’d chatted it by with my household, and I’m wanting ahead to the following couple of years.”
Since taking up from Neil Fowkes as head coach, Hammond has been in command of the group for 98 aggressive fixtures, the primary of which was at house in opposition to Ampthill on seventeenth September 2021.
