Appointment of Head Coach for 2011

Parramatta has continued to build its off-field structure with the appointment of a successful new head coach to take the club forward in 2011. Tuggeranong Vikings coach Glen Christini will make the move to the Two Blues next season after a successful period coaching in Canberra.

Before making the move to Australia, Christini coached NPC Rugby in his homeland with South Canterbury as well holding a National Development role with Northland.

He moved to Canberra in 2007 where he took over as head coach of the Queanbeyan Whites, guiding the club to its first premiership in 24 years. He followed that up with back-to-back titles in 2008 before moving to Tuggeranong where a last minute conversion handed his side the 2009 John I Dent Cup.

With one round remaining Tuggeranong has already wrapped up the 2010 minor premiership with Christini hoping to complete his Canberra experience with a fourth-straight title before heading to Parramatta.

"I am deeply honoured to be considered the right person to take the Parramatta Two Blues forward," said Christini. "It is a proud club with a lot of tradition behind it and it's entering an exciting phase."

Parramatta Rugby Club president Steve Boland said the club is excited about the announcement with Christini's coaching credentials sure to boost the playing ranks as well.

"Glen's under no illusions that this is going to be a far bigger challenge than he's had to undertake in his coaching career to date but it's something he's looking forward to with excitement, not trepidation," said Boland.

"Winning three straight premierships with two different clubs is no mean feat and everything is pointing towards him adding to that record this year. That's a clear sign of his capabilities as a quality head coach.

"In New Zealand he also oversaw the progression of a number of players through to senior representative teams including the national Sevens program.

"He's a coach with high ambitions which marries perfectly with the aspirations of our club. We're aware that Glen had a number of other offers to coach in Sydney so we're extremely happy to win the race for his signature."

Boland added that Christini's decision to join Parramatta means the Two Blues can now go about rebuilding the club on the field for 2011 and beyond.

"Securing a coach with Glen's experience and success provides a real boost to our recruitment and retention program," said Boland. We can now get started on our 2011 campaign a lot earlier and we are confident of pulling together a playing roster of high quality and strengthening depth."

Two Blues General Manager Michael Bell echoed Steve Boland's comments saying "This is the most important signing the club has made in decades."

The announcement is a further boost to the club which earlier this year announced Visy, one of the world's largest privately-owned paper recycling and packaging companies, as its new major sponsor.