{{Short description|Australian rugby union player}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2020}} {{Use Australian English|date=April 2012}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Andy Friend | fullname = Andrew Friend | image = Andy Friend.jpg | nickname = | birth_place = Canberra, ACT | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1969|4|24|df=y}}<ref name = aru-2016/> | ru_position = Full-back | ru_currentposition = Head Coach of Connacht | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years1 = | clubs1 = | apps1 = | points1 = | provinceyears1 = 1989–1991 | province1 = Australian Capital Territory | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | repyears1 = 1986–1987 | repteam1 = Australian Schoolboys | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | coachyears1 = 2005–2008 | coachyears2 = 2008–2011 | coachyears3 = 2012–2014 | coachyears4 = 2014–2016 | coachyears5 = 2016–2018 | coachyears6 = 2018–pres. | coachteams1 = <!-- Head coaching positions only--> Harlequins | coachteams2 = Brumbies | coachteams3 = Canon Eagles | coachteams4 = Suntory Sungoliath | coachteams5 = {{nrut7|Australia}} | coachteams6 = Connacht }} '''Andrew Friend''' (born 24 April 1969) is an Australian rugby union coach and former player. He completed his most recent post as Director of Rugby for Irish province Connacht at the end of the 2022/23 URC season. He was previously head coach of the Australia Sevens team,<ref name = aru-2016/> the Brumbies in Super Rugby,<ref name=friend-sacked/> English club Harlequins,<ref name=quins/> and Canon Eagles and Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League.<ref name = aru-2016/><ref name=suntory/>
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==Playing career== Friend was selected in the Australia Schoolboys rugby team for 1986–87 before going on to play provincial rugby for the ACT Kookaburras.<ref name = aru-2016/> His position of choice was full-back.<ref name="Friend appointed CA Brumbies Head Coach">{{cite web|url=http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/53906 |title=Friend appointed CA Brumbies Head Coach |publisher=Brumbies |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080721023524/http://www.brumbies.com.au/act.rugby/page/53906 |archive-date=21 July 2008}}</ref>
==Club coaching== Friend began his coaching career within an Australian Institute of Sport rugby programme in 1995.<ref name=aru-2016/><ref name=smh-2008b/> He held assistant coaching positions at the New South Wales Waratahs and the Brumbies.<ref name=smh-2008a/><ref name=iht-2008/> He was also the Brumbies skills coach under Eddie Jones.<ref name=fox-2008/>
In the summer of 2005, Friend joined English Premiership team Harlequins as head coach.<ref name=quins-profile/><ref name=brumbies-job/> Following the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, he signed a three-year contract with the Canberra-based Brumbies side.<ref name=quins/>
He took over from Laurie Fisher as head coach at the Super Rugby club.<ref name=boss-brum/> After completing two full seasons in charge, Friend has his contract terminated in March 2011 following a loss to the Melbourne Rebels and rumours of player discontent.<ref name=friend-sacked/> He was the third coach to either be fired or not have their contract renewed by the ACT Brumbies board. After helping out as a trainer for various Canberra high school teams, Friend went to Japan in 2012 and became the head coach at Canon Eagles for two seasons.<ref name = aru-2016/> He was head coach of Suntory Sungoliath from 2014 to 2016.<ref name=suntory/>
Friend was appointed as the head coach of Pro14 side Connacht on a three-year deal in May 2018.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/connacht-rugby/andy-friend-confirmed-as-new-connacht-head-coach-36942358.html |work=Irish Independent |title=Andy Friend confirmed as new Connacht head coach |date=24 May 2018 |access-date=24 May 2018}}</ref>
Inaugural inductee to University of Canberra Sport Walk of Fame in 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 November 2022 |title=Walk of Fame Members |url=https://www.canberra.edu.au/on-campus/sport/sport-walk-of-fame/inductees |access-date=18 November 2022 |website=University of Canberra}}</ref>
==International coaching== Friend guided the Australian Under-21 team to the final of the 2005 World Championships.<ref name="Quins lose Friend"/> He worked within the Wallabies setup for the 2002 Tri Nations Series and 2003 Rugby World Cup.<ref name="Friend to leave Quins"/> He was appointed as head coach of the Australian Sevens team in 2016.<ref name = aru-2016/>
==Charity bike ride== Following an accident in 2010 when his wife, Kerri Rawlings, came off her bike and suffered a serious brain injury, Andy Friend undertook a 5000 km journey from Cooktown to Canberra to raise awareness and money for Acquired Brain Injury. This was to support Brain Injury Australia and Outward Bound. The journey was successful, with his wife as part of the support crew, and was completed in late November 2011.<ref name = chron-2011/>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=25em|refs=
<ref name=aru-2016>{{cite web |date = 5 January 2016 |title = Andy Friend appointed Qantas Australian Men's Sevens coach |website = ARU |access-date = 5 January 2016 |url = http://www.rugby.com.au/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1699/ArticleID/17239/Andy-Friend-appointed-Qantas-Australian-Mens-Sevens-coach.aspx |archive-url = https://archive.today/20240527162552/https://www.webcitation.org/6eIiEOCo5?url=http://www.rugby.com.au/DesktopModules/PackFlashPublish/ArticleDetail/ArticleDetailPrint.aspx%3FArticleID=17239&Template=Standard_Print.ascx&siteID=1 |archive-date = 27 May 2024 |url-status = dead |df = dmy-all }} </ref>
<ref name=quins>{{cite web |url=http://www.quins.co.uk/newspage.ink?nid=38911&newstype=n&matchid=&Refid= |title=Harlequins' Andy Friend named as Head Coach for ACT Brumbies |publisher=Quins |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17 }}{{dead link|date=October 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} </ref>
<ref name=boss-brum>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12546_3424499,00.html |title=Friend set to boss Brumbies|publisher=Sky Sports|date=16 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} </ref>
<ref name=friend-sacked>[http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-union/brumbies-coach-sacked/2089944.aspx Brumbies Coach Sacked] </ref>
<ref name=suntory>[http://www.japonrugby.net/andy-friend-nouveal-entraineur-de-suntory-sungoliath.php Andy Friend, nouvel entraîneur-chef de Suntory Sungoliath] </ref>
<ref name=quins-profile>{{cite web |url=http://www.quins.co.uk/CoachDisplay.ink?skip=4&season=2007/2008&Playertype=c |title=Andy Friend|publisher=Quins|date=17 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} </ref>
<ref name="Quins lose Friend">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/harlequins/7347964.stm |title=Quins lose Friend to ACT Brumbies|publisher=BBC|date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} </ref>
<ref name="Friend to leave Quins">{{cite web |url=http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby/08/04/15/RUGBYU_Harlequins.html |title=Friend to leave Quins |publisher=Sportinglife |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605004520/http://www.sportinglife.com/rugbyunion/news/story_get.cgi?STORY_NAME=rugby%2F08%2F04%2F15%2FRUGBYU_Harlequins.html |archive-date=5 June 2011 }} </ref>
<ref name=brumbies-job>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnesspremiership.com/254_23705.php|title=Quins' Friend gets Brumbies role |publisher=Guinness Premiership|date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} </ref>
<ref name=smh-2008a>{{cite web |url=http://www.rugbyheaven.com.au/news/super14/brumbies-to-name-new-coach/2008/04/15/1208025151394.html |title=Andy Friend new Brumbies coach|publisher=Rugby Heaven|date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}} </ref>
<ref name=smh-2008b>{{cite web |url=http://news.smh.com.au/friend-appointed-new-brumbies-coach/20080415-266z.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121231044436/http://news.smh.com.au/friend-appointed-new-brumbies-coach/20080415-266z.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=31 December 2012 |title=Friend appointed new Brumbies coach |publisher=The Sydney Morning Herald |date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17 }} </ref>
<ref name=iht-2008>{{cite web |url=http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/04/15/sports/AS-SPT-RUGU-Brumbies-Coach.php |title=Super 14: Andy Friend named coach of ACT Brumbies|publisher=International Herald Tribune|date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} </ref>
<ref name=fox-2008>{{cite web |url=http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,23541493-5002381,00.html |title=Brumbies to confirm Friend's appointment|publisher=Fox Sports|date=15 April 2008 |access-date=2008-04-17}} </ref>
<ref name=chron-2011>{{cite news |date = 27 October 2011 |title = Wife inspires 5000km ride |first = Callum |last = Bentley |website = The Chronicle |access-date = 5 January 2016 |url = http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/wife-inspires-5000km-ride/1152749/ |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304194324/http://www.thechronicle.com.au/news/wife-inspires-5000km-ride/1152749/ |archive-date = 4 March 2016 |df = dmy }} </ref> }}
==External links== *[http://www.quins.co.uk/CoachDisplay.ink?skip=4&season=2007/2008&Playertype=c Harlequins profile]{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
{{Australia 2016 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Friend, Andy}} Category:1969 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby union players Category:Australian rugby union coaches Category:Olympic coaches for Australia Category:ACT Brumbies coaches Category:Coaches of international rugby sevens teams Category:Connacht Rugby non-playing staff Category:People educated at Canberra Grammar School Category:Rugby union players from Canberra Category:Australian expatriate rugby union players in England Category:University of Canberra alumni Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen