# Mike Friday > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mike_Friday > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Mike_Friday.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Friday > Source revision: 1343447896 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Short description|English rugby union player & coach}} {{Infobox rugby biography | image =Mike Friday LQ 2016.jpg | caption = | birth_name = Michael John Friday | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1972|4|25}} | birth_place = [Chichester, England](/source/Chichester%2C_England) | height = {{height|m=1.73}} | weight = {{cvt|78|kg|lb stlb}} | relatives = [Lucas Friday](/source/Lucas_Friday) | ru_position = [Scrum-half](/source/Scrum-half_(rugby_union)) | amatyears1 = | amatteam1 = | years3 = 1997–2000 | years4 = 2000–2001 | years5 = 2001–2002 | clubs1 = [London Wasps](/source/Wasps_RFC) | clubs2 = [Blackheath FC](/source/Blackheath_FC) | clubs3 = [London Wasps](/source/Wasps_RFC) | clubs4 = [Harlequins](/source/Harlequin_F.C.) | clubs5 = [London Wasps](/source/Wasps_RFC) | apps1 = | points1 = | superyears1 = | super1 = | superapps1 = | superpoints1 = | provinceyears1 = | province1 = | provinceapps1 = | provincepoints1 = | repyears1 = | repteam1 = | repcaps1 = | reppoints1 = | repsevensyears1 = 1998–2001 | repsevensteam1 = [England 7s](/source/England_national_rugby_sevens_team) | repsevenscomp1 = | coachyears1 = 2004–2006 | coachyears2 = 2012–2013 | coachyears3 = 2014–2015 | coachyears4 = 2014–2024 | coachteams1 = [England](/source/England_national_rugby_sevens_team) 7s | coachteams2 = [Kenya](/source/Kenya_national_rugby_sevens_team) 7s | coachteams3 = [London Scottish](/source/London_Scottish_F.C.) | coachteams4 = [USA](/source/United_States_national_rugby_sevens_team) 7s | coachteams5 = [Kalinga Black Tigers](/source/Kalinga_Black_Tigers) | coachyears5 = 2025- }} '''Michael John "Mike" Friday''' (born April 25, 1972) has been the head coach of the [United States national rugby sevens team](/source/United_States_national_rugby_sevens_team) since summer 2014. Friday succeeded the previous coach, [Matt Hawkins](/source/Matt_Hawkins_(rugby_union)), following the [2013–14 World Series](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_IRB_Sevens_World_Series). On 30 September 2024 USA Rugby announced that Friday would be replaced by [Simon Amor](/source/Simon_Amor).{{cite web |last1=Cahill |first1=Calder |title=USA Rugby appoints Simon Amor as next Head Coach to the USA Men's Sevens |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/usa-rugby-appoints-simon-amor-as-next-head-coach-to-the-usa-mens-sevens-2024930 |website=eagles.rugby |publisher=USA Rugby |access-date=3 November 2024}} He is the father of [Lucas Friday](/source/Lucas_Friday).{{cite web |title=Lucas Friday Profile |url=https://www.quins.co.uk/profile/lucas-friday |publisher=Harlequins |access-date=3 January 2025}} Friday had previously served as head coach for the national rugby sevens teams of England from 2004 to 2006, and Kenya from 2012 to 2013. ==Playing career== Friday was born in [Chichester, England](/source/Chichester%2C_England). Friday played professional rugby 15s for various teams, including the London Wasps and Harlequins. He captained the [England national rugby sevens team](/source/England_national_rugby_sevens_team), including at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[http://usarugby.org/mens-sevens-news/item/friday-appointed-men-s-eagles-sevens-head-coach "Friday appointed Men's Eagles Sevens head coach"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303231426/http://usarugby.org/mens-sevens-news/item/friday-appointed-men-s-eagles-sevens-head-coach |date=2016-03-03 }}, USA Rugby, 18 July 2014. While at Wasps he helped them win the [Anglo-Welsh Cup](/source/Anglo-Welsh_Cup) in 1999 and 2000; he was a replacement in both finals.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/344901.stm |title=Wasps win Cup at last |publisher=BBC |date=16 May 1999 |accessdate=10 October 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/rugby_union/747419.stm |title=Wasps deny Saints cup double |publisher=BBC |date=13 May 2000 |accessdate=10 October 2019}} ==England (2001–2006)== Friday served for three years as assistant coach to [Joe Lydon](/source/Joe_Lydon_(rugby)) of the [England national rugby sevens team](/source/England_national_rugby_sevens_team). Friday then became the head coach of the England 7s team near the end of the 2003/2004 season.{{cite web |url=http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.News_Detail/StoryID/12015 |title=Rugby Football Union - Mike Friday England Sevens profile |accessdate=2006-07-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061108173617/http://www.rfu.com/index.cfm/fuseaction/RFUHome.News_Detail/StoryID/12015 |archivedate=2006-11-08}} He resigned from the role at the end of 2006 to take up a business role in the [City of London](/source/City_of_London). In June 2010 Friday announced his involvement in RuckingBall.com, an online community for the development of school-boy rugby, coaches and parents. ==Kenya (2012–13)== Mike Friday was appointed as coach of the [Kenya national rugby sevens team](/source/Kenya_national_rugby_sevens_team) on 25 May 2012 by the [Kenya Rugby Football Union](/source/Kenya_Rugby_Football_Union).{{cite web |url=http://www.nation.co.ke |publisher=nation.co.ke |title=Daily Nation - Breaking News, Kenya, Africa, Politics, Business, Sports | HOME |accessdate=2016-09-03}} He led the Kenya 7s team to one of its best performances in Wellington New Zealand, on 2 February 2013, to the final versus England which Kenya lost 19-24 during extra time. Friday also led Kenya to a 5th-place finish in the 2013 London Sevens. Friday led the Kenyan sevens team to a series high of 99 points in the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series. Friday was reportedly fired by the Director of National Squads and Elite Performance, Philip Jalang'o, barely a day after the end of the 2012–13 season. This decision was however denied by the chair of the Kenya Rugby Union Mwangi Muthee, with Philip Jalang'o losing his job as a result. ==United States (2014–2024)== Friday was appointed head coach of the [United States national sevens team](/source/United_States_national_rugby_sevens_team) by USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville in July 2014. Melville was Friday's coach when Friday played at [London Wasps](/source/Wasps_RFC). Under Friday’s leadership, the U.S. qualified for the Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024. Initially Friday concurrently retained his role as director of rugby for the England-based [London Scottish](/source/London_Scottish_F.C.) professional rugby team. As of May 14, 2015 it was announced that Friday was leaving the London Scottish role.[http://www.thisisamericanrugby.com/2015/05/mike-friday-leaving-london-scottish.html "Mike Friday Leaving London Scottish"] This is American Rugby On 8 August 2024 USA Rugby announced that Friday had decided to step away as U.S.A. men's sevens coach.{{cite web |last1=Cahill |first1=Calder |title=Head Coach Mike Friday announces he'll step away from the USA Men's Sevens program |url=https://eagles.rugby/news/head-coach-mike-friday-announces-hell-step-away-from-the-usa-mens-sevens-program-202488 |website=eagle.news |publisher=USA Rugby |access-date=3 November 2024}} ==Coaching results== The following table shows the results of national teams coached by Mike Friday in the World Rugby Sevens Series. {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center" |- ! Season !! Team !! Finish |- | [2004–05](/source/2004-05_IRB_Sevens_World_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|England}} || style="background:#c96;" |3rd |- | [2005–06](/source/2005-06_IRB_Sevens_World_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|England}} || style="background:Silver;" |2nd |- | [2012–13](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_IRB_Sevens_World_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|Kenya}} || 5th |- | [2014–15](/source/2014%E2%80%9315_Sevens_World_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 6th |- | [2015–16](/source/2015%E2%80%9316_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 6th |- | [2016–17](/source/2016%E2%80%9317_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 5th |- | [2017–18](/source/2017%E2%80%9318_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 6th |- | [2018–19](/source/2018%E2%80%9319_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || style="background:Silver;" | 2nd |- | [2019–20](/source/2019%E2%80%9320_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 7th |- | [2021](/source/2021_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 5th |- | [2022–23](/source/2022%E2%80%9323_World_Rugby_Sevens_Series) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || 10th |- | [2023–24](/source/2023%E2%80%9324_SVNS) || align=left | {{nrut7|United States}} || ''8th'' |- |} ==Personal life== He is the father of [Harlequins](/source/Harlequin_F.C.) scrum half [Lucas Friday](/source/Lucas_Friday).{{cite web|url= https://www.therugbypaper.co.uk/latest-news/427315/top-of-the-world-2/|website=The Rugby Paper|accessdate=2 January 2025|title= Top of the world|date=21 July 2024}} ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930023714/http://www.england-rugby.com/EnglandRugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=Home.Simple_Display&storyid=12015 |title=England Sevens profile |date=mdy}} * {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605085006/http://www.wasps.co.uk/PlayerDisplaySS.ink?skip=10&squadno=1063&season=01%2F02&seasonl=2001%2F2002&Playertype=P |title=Wasps profile |date=mdy}} * {{World Rugby Sevens Series player}} * {{Olympedia}} {{USA Men's Sevens squad 2024 Summer Olympics}} {{USA 2020 Summer Olympics Squad}} {{USA 2016 Summer Olympics Squad}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Friday, Mike}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:English rugby union coaches Category:Rugby union players from Chichester Category:Rosslyn Park F.C. players Category:United States national rugby sevens team coaches Category:Olympic coaches for the United States Category:Wasps RFC players Category:Harlequin F.C. players Category:Blackheath F.C. players Category:English rugby union players Category:Coaches at the 2024 Summer Olympics Category:Coaches at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Coaches at the 2016 Summer Olympics --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mike Friday](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Friday) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Friday?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.