Gibson is new Academy chief
By Mark Stevens
15/7/18
Rob Gibson is looking to an ‘exciting new era’ in his coaching career after this week being made the new Exeter Chiefs Academy manager.
The New Zealander takes on the role from former England prop Robin Cowling, who has been the guiding light in bringing through a wealth of proven Premiership and international talent at the Chiefs over the years.
Cowling, 74, will continue to maintain an advisory brief to the Chiefs, but he hands over an ever-increasing department to Gibson that is not only full of promise moving forward, but one which has also unearthed some of Rob Baxter’s prized first-team gems in the shape of Jack Nowell, Henry Slade, Luke Cowan-Dickie, Dave Ewers and the Simmonds brothers, Sam and Joe.
As right-hand man to Cowling for the past 14 years, Gibson - together with Ricky Pellow - have helped to build the club’s stellar academy set-up, which now employs 24 full-time staff and is tasked with bringing through the cream of young rugby talent from within Devon and Cornwall.
“What we have achieved in the past has helped pave the way for a new era here at the club,” said Gibson. “We’ve seen already this year with 14 academy players being taken on into the first team squad, some exciting developments off the field, it’s hard not to be excited about what the future holds.
“We’ve got a fantastic structure in place at the club and a group of staff who I am privileged to work with every day. Also, the support we get from the very top, people like Tony Rowe, Rob Baxter, the board, everything is in place for us to succeed. Having that backing is vital for us and underlines the culture and the ethics of what makes Exeter Chiefs so special.”
Gibson’s coaching career began at his hometown club Upper Hutt where over time he coached players from as a young as Under-5 right through to their own premier team.
He was later taken on as a development officer with the Wellington Lions and the Hurricanes, including working with a very young Thomas Waldrom, before a coaching role with the Sri Lankan Army followed. However, the 2004 Tsunami which swept through the country brought to an end that role and it was at that time that Gibson, who was over visiting his brother, got a job here in England with Ivybridge Community College.
Roles working at Plymouth Albion and with SWERA (South West England Rugby Academy) followed before Cowling brought him on board to work with the Chiefs, who had just been granted the Academy licence for this region. The rest, as they say, is history and Gibson has been part of the club’s make-up ever since.
“Ben Moon is one from that first group,” says Gibson. “It’s great to see him, Dave Ewers, Sam Hill, Stu Townsend all come through as they have.
“As a coach, you get a huge amount of pride when you see players get to those top levels and really establish themselves. It means the long hours, those wet nights, all those games and training sessions you go through, it’s all worth it. To see a young fella achieve his dream, there is no better feeling in the world.
“Equally, I take just as much pride seeing boys playing in the Championship or the National Leagues doing well. At the end of the day, we’re all rugby people. If you look at a lot of the clubs down here, most weekends you’ll find someone at some club who we’ve worked with through the academy. That in itself gives me and the staff a great sense of satisfaction.”
Now Gibson’s brief will be to ensure the conveyor belt of local talent continues to produce for the Chiefs in the coming years.
“The aim is to improve the conversion rate even more,” added Gibson. “We know we are identifying well and that we are making huge strides each year, but it doesn’t matter how many players you bring through, ultimately you have to be successful. We have to convert academy players into Premiership players, but not just Premiership players, they need to be top line Premiership players to maintain our position.
“When we brought that what people call that golden group of the likes of Nowell, Slade, Hill and Cowan-Dickie, we weren’t at the top of the Premiership. It’s changed a huge amount in a short time and for sure there is more pressure on those players now coming in from the academy because we are a top side and we have to look to stay there.”
Gibson’s final words, however, were for the man he takes over from. He added: “Robin’s certainly a tough act to follow. I can’t praise him enough for the work he has done over the years. The stability and the wisdom he has given, together with the endless hours of unseen work, has been fantastic. If I can come anywhere near producing a legacy similar to what he has achieved, then I know I will have a done a good job.”