Nearly a quarter of a century after helping guide Australia to a series win over the British and Irish Lions as an assistant to Rod Macqueen in 2001, Glen Ella will get another crack at the tourists as part of the coaching set-up for the First Nations & Pasifika XV.
The combined XV will take on the Lions at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium on July 22, boasting an all-star coaching team. Wallabies legend Toutai Kefu is the head coach with New Zealand’s Tana Umaga, and former Fiji coach Simon Raiwalui and former Wallabies prop Sekope Kepu join Ella in supporting roles.
Ella last coached at Test level in 2017, when he travelled to Argentina to help close friend Eddie Jones prepare England for their summer tour. Away from rugby, the former Wallabies fullback has been enjoying life in Nowra, running a business and casting fishing lines with close friends.
But if you want an indication of what else is important to him, you need look no further than a sticker on the rear window of his car which features a South Sydney Rabbitohs logo in the colours of the Australian Aboriginal flag, showcasing his lifelong love of South Sydney and his continued commitment to representing his culture.
All of this means that when he took the call from Rugby Australia to canvass his interest in the First Nations & Pasifika XV, there was only going to be one answer.
“The players will never get an opportunity like this again, probably in their lives. I think the Pasifika team and First Nations team will be very passionate,” Ella said.
Wallabies legend Glen Ella at Randwick Rugby Club on Monday after being named as assistant coach for the First Nations & Pasifika XV.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
“Normally in a game, you’d swap your jumpers with the Lions, but I’m thinking, no, keep those jumpers instead of giving them away. They’re representing their countries, they’re representing their communities and they’re representing their families.
“We keep on saying it, but this has never been done before. What we want to do is make sure that when we play the game in Melbourne, whether we win or lose, that we do our countries proud.”
Although all were talented rugby league players, it was in union that Glen and his brothers, Gary and Mark, would make their names, redefining how the game could be played, with lightning feet and hands helping them exploit the smallest gaps.
The brothers shared 35 Tests for the Wallabies, including a grand slam tour for Mark, but none had the opportunity to face the Lions as players. There was no chance Ella was going to pass up the opportunity to be involved.
Glen Ella would love to work with Kurtley Beale for the First Nations & Pasifika XV.Credit: Getty Images
“When you get an opportunity just to watch the Lions play, it’s special, let alone be part of a coaching a squad that plays against them – it’s second to none,” he said.
“I say to every rugby league person I know – do you realise what’s happening? Do you realise how many people are coming into Australia to watch these guys? It’s going to be like a storm coming.”
Ella will help run the team’s attack, and although he hasn’t yet held discussions with Kefu on potential selections, he wants Kurtley Beale involved in his side if the fullback position is available. First Nations players such as Brumbies’ Andy Muirhead and the Waratahs’ Triston Reilly are also on his radar.
“It just depends on where they’re going to pick him, if he is available, which I hope he is,” Ella said of Beale. “I’d love to have him.
“I’ve got a good relationship with Kurtley from years gone by, and to actually have an opportunity to coach him, just this one opportunity, would be great.
“But, you know, there could be another few First Nations people playing as well. We’re not going to favour them, but we’re going to make sure that they’re ready to go.”
Winger Dylan Pietsch became just the 15th known Indigenous Wallaby when he made his debut last July. Ella would love to see more First Nations representation not only at Test level, but throughout Super Rugby.
“There’s always more that can be done,” he said. “I think we’re looking at probably four to five players, First Nations people playing for their franchises all over Australia.
“I mean, we just can’t do enough because if you look at AFL, or you look at NRL – their best players are mostly Indigenous players.
“So we really need to have a good look at what we’re doing with Indigenous rugby and see if we can promote that a lot better.”
