What number of Scots have participated in an Olympic sevens ultimate and a Rugby World Cup ultimate? Within the area of 14 months, Iain Monaghan, the globetrotting Glaswegian coach, featured in each showpiece occasions, an architect of Canada’s swashbuckling technique throughout both code.
Ultimately yr’s Paris Video games, Canada dumped out Australia’s much-vaunted ‘golden women’ and fell solely to the Black Ferns on the final hurdle. A yr later, they took aside all their pool rivals – Wales, Fiji and Scotland – caught 46 factors on the Wallaroos and dynamited New Zealand’s title defence earlier than being overwhelmed by the Pink Roses.
Monaghan downplays his position in all of this, however those that know and work with him inform it otherwise. The Scot could also be modest, however he has by no means been shy in making a leap. He left Glasgow in his twenties to play and coach with historic Italian membership Viadana, earlier than honing the following batch of expertise at house, reworking the high-performance programme in Hong Kong and transferring to his picturesque spot on Vancouver Island in early 2023.
As a key lieutenant to Jack Hanratty in sevens then Kevin Rouet with the XVs squad, Monaghan revelled within the achievements of this astonishing group of girls. All of the extra so given the group raised donations to part-fund their bid for World Cup glory.
“As a coach coming from a Tier One nation, or popping out of Hong Kong the place there was finance available, it did blow my thoughts,” Monaghan says. “Except you’re ice hockey, it’s fairly a standard factor right here. Not an accepted norm – a norm they’re working actually onerous to alter. With success on the sphere, they hope and dream it’s not going to be there in future.
“Listening to tales of the earlier World Cup preparation, going to New Zealand, Kevin was very new in place, they had been browsing sofas making an attempt to get collectively off their very own backs, that galvanised the spirit. They do no matter it takes to be prepared.
“The gamers will acknowledge the large effort Rugby Canada and the provinces and neighborhood put in. We aren’t wealthy in in financial phrases, however the rugby neighborhood is wealthy. They arrive collectively to get behind their groups. Individuals are extra conscious, extra related to the people, their social media is rising. You see the ability of Ilona Maher within the US, and that’s all it takes, and now we have 30 superb people who might develop into that.
Individuals had made us issues, given us presents, like taking part in playing cards with a maple leaf and World Cup on them, banners, a tunnel for gamers to come back via to get to the sphere at our farewell session in Ontario.
“We’re ready to roll our sleeves up and ensure. That places fireplace within the bellies and strengthens the spirt and humbles you. When you’re within the surroundings you realise hey, cousins, brothers, sisters, dad and mom, pals have contributed to this. Individuals had made us issues, given us presents, like taking part in playing cards with a maple leaf and World Cup on them, banners, a tunnel for gamers to come back via to get to the sphere at our farewell session in Ontario. In all probability 500-600 folks had been on the tribune and across the area cheering the announcement of the gamers. That’s only a snapshot.”
When he gave up taking part in and returned from Italy 15 years in the past, Monaghan took up a job inside Scottish Rugby’s elite improvement pathway, influencing a complete host of worldwide careers. New efficiency director David Nucifora is grappling with the unwieldy situation of bringing these children via quicker, and in larger quantity, than the Scottish system appears able to managing. Canada might not present a lot of a template on this regard, however in uniting behind a standard aim, Scotland’s usually parochial neighborhood might study just a few classes.
“I used to be working with the most effective younger gamers within the nation aged 18 to 23,” Monaghan remembers. “Chris Fusaro, Alex Dunbar, Grant Gilchrist – Stuart Hogg was in there as a 17-year-old. They cut up the next yr into Edinburgh and Glasgow and it’s good to see Nucifora has pushed that route and expanded these numbers. I’m a giant advocate of membership rugby and neighborhood rugby however I perceive the gulf between the skilled stage and the grassroots stage.
“There may be by no means going to be an answer which everybody goes to be pleased with, however as a small nation now we have to get behind each other. If we will carry any sense of the neighborhood the Canadians have right here, then you’ll make issues occur.”
In a way, Canada’s blueprint mirrors Monaghan’s personal profession path; daring and daring and pleased to do issues otherwise. Their front-row forwards offload like centres. They’ll bludgeon you with their pack or fillet you with their velocity. The sport is performed at a livid tempo. At one stage in the course of the World Cup, Canada’s common ruck velocity was simply over two seconds; a determine nearly unprecedented within the elite recreation, male or feminine.
“We spend loads of time in coaching round rugby IQ,” Monaghan says. “The place’s the most effective area, and what’s the speedy affect on the opposition? Coaching the gamers’ capability to assist in that area. We uncovered skillsets that possibly weren’t ok so we needed to work on them to permit for continuity. I wouldn’t say it’s rocket science.
“I don’t suppose I’ve come throughout, even within the males’s professional recreation, a extra studious or diligent group. There’s an actual thirst. With out being disrespectful, within the ladies’s recreation you aren’t at all times uncovered to nice teaching as a woman rising up. Typically you’re fast-tracking otherwise you’ve missed out on one thing at some stage, so it’s vital we spend loads of time with gamers.
“There’s a transparent definition of, that’s your main job, however your secondary job, there’s no quantity in your again as a result of how we’re describing the sport is the sport for everybody. We’re not giving them a construction they have to observe which in all probability 95% of all groups play in the direction of. That actually enthused our group. They get very excited round not being the identical as everybody else.
Even for those who’re a high male participant, they might be fairly envious of the skillset Sophie has acquired.
“Don’t get me incorrect, when you’re taking part in high groups like England who can apply stress to you, we must be streetwise and may’t at all times appear to be this Harlem Globetrotter group. That comes with expertise. That’s why we put a giant deal with our personal coaching being very, very intense – taking part in 12 v 15, for instance, and actually taking satisfaction that if we prepare at this degree then it ought to enable us to take pleasure in taking part in the opposition.”
No-one personified Canada’s distinctive brilliance greater than Sophie de Goede, the swaggering, goalkicking, rib-cracking totem of their marketing campaign. De Goede is technically a second row however may very well be feasibly deployed anyplace within the backline. She pots objectives from the touchline, carries with searing venom and has the valuable recreation intelligence coaches crave.
“It’s the place the way forward for the sport is,” Monaghan says. “Even for those who’re a high male participant, they might be fairly envious of the skillset she has acquired. She isn’t just a scholar of the sport however a very good ambassador; very skilled, devoted.
“She challenges coaches and workers in a wholesome method to carry the most effective out of us whereas giving an excellent athlete’s perspective. She is a stunning individual so it’s not that onerous to develop a robust athlete-coach relationship.”
Monaghan beams in regards to the progress Scotland’s ladies made this autumn below his previous buddy Bryan Easson. There’s an apparent segue right here since Easson has left his submit and Scottish Rugby wants a brand new head coach to handle a proficient and diligent taking part in group who’ve confronted all method of off-field trauma.
Francesca McGhie is a six-try marvel 🤯🏴 #RWC2025 pic.twitter.com/H33I2YSPc6
— Rugby World Cup (@rugbyworldcup) October 8, 2025
Monaghan loves his job in Canada. His spouse, the previous Scotland participant Sarah (nee Dixon), additionally works with Rugby Canada and their two-year-old son, Arthur, was born in Vancouver. Former Glasgow managing director Nathan Bombrys runs the union. It’s a comparatively small operation and the bonds between colleagues are tight. All that mentioned, such a prestigious gig for thus proud a Scot would maintain clear attract.
“I really feel very valued at Rugby Canada,” Monaghan says. “I really feel a part of the neighborhood and that has at all times been my driver.
“To me, jobs in Scotland are dream jobs. I’ve been away making an attempt to develop into a extra rounded individual and coach, a greater coach, and if a possibility is available in Scotland, I’m positive you’ll take into account it. Whether or not or not you apply for them or get them, I’ve been very targeted on my job right here and had a little bit of household time, and I’m solely now changing into a bit extra open to chatting.
“I’ve sturdy hyperlinks to Scottish Rugby with people who find themselves nonetheless there. I’m very obsessed with it, however I’m actually pleased with the assist and what I’m doing in Canada.”
The Scottish union will likely be all too conscious of Monaghan’s CV and his deep sense of patriotism. In any case, seldom does a Caledonian, forging his personal path on the opposite aspect of the world, grace the best levels within the recreation.
