Wilson adds PREM experience to Chiefs coaching staff

New Zealander James Wilson has joined Exeter Chiefs as the men’s assistant backs coach.

Wilson has moved back to the UK having been a part of the Southland Stags coaching staff for the last four years. The 42-year-old joined the Stags as attack coach in 2021 having previously represented them on more than 80 occasions as a player.

Wilson said: “Coming back to the PREM was a massive draw for me. I was once a player here and I’ve always wanted to come back to coach in the UK. So, when this opportunity came up, I had to jump at it.

“Rob [Baxter] liked the fact I had experience working with guys coming through the academy and transitioning into the first team. I really enjoy working with young players, helping them to develop and get them into regular games.

“I’d like to get to know as much about the players as possible and ensure that they’re able to trust me and know that whatever I show them, they can take it on and build from it.”

Although born in New Zealand, Wilson often travelled further afield for club rugby as he played for Bourgoin-Jallieu in the French Nationale league and Mitsubishi Dynaboars in Japan. He did play in his native country for the Highlanders.

The Prem is not an unknown entity to Wilson, the former full-back played 94 games for Northampton Saints, alongside current Chiefs coach Ross McMillan, and a further 26 games for Bath Rugby.

While a part of the squad at The Rec, Wilson was encouraged by decorated coach Todd Blackadder to take up the coach’s whistle once his time on the pitch was over. Including former Highlanders coach Greg Cooper among his list of mentors, Wilson brings an exciting array of experience to the Chiefs staff.

Chiefs director of rugby Rob Baxter said: “We’re really pleased to be announcing James. We wanted to move pretty quickly to add to the coaching staff when we knew that Ricky Pellow would be departing. We wanted to bring in somebody whose initial role would be to take over a lot of Ricky’s responsibilities around skills coaching, backs coaching and working alongside our senior academy group.

“James has got a lot of experience coaching in New Zealand, so we’re expecting him to have a fair bit of input into the senior group as well, right from the start as he’ll have full matchday involvement with our senior side.

“He’s got a wealth of Prem experience with both Northampton Saints and Bath Rugby, so he knows the competition well having played in both Europe and the Prem. We’ve been very impressed with his CV and the coaching he’s done in New Zealand.

“All in all, we think it’s a really good signing for us. He’s got a great skillset and is someone we think can really add to the coaching group, particularly with him being a former back-three player as that’s an area that we haven’t got a coach with experience in as both Dave [Walder] and Haydn [Thomas] were half-backs.

“James has come over from New Zealand and come straight in to work with us just a couple of days on from his arrival. We’re delighted to have him and we hope he can have a big impact for us.”

Wilson joins up with the Chiefs squad at Sandy Park as preparations are underway for a second round EPCR Challenge Cup bout with Racing 92 in Paris.