Current Students and Staff

// University News

10 Sep 2014

Loughborough Students add former internationals to coaching team

Loughborough Students’ Rugby Union have bolstered their coaching set-up with the addition of two former international players - England hooker George Chuter and Scotland Seven’s scrum half Ciaran Beattie.

George Chuter is an international hooker who won 24 caps for England, and was a member of the 2007 Rugby World Cup squad that was defeated by South Africa in the final.

George also spent 13 years at Leicester Tigers where he made 292 appearances for the club including seven Premiership and four Heineken Cup finals.

George will work part time as the BUCS 1 (2nd XV) forwards coach, alongside providing technical advice for the 1st XV. He will also be responsible for maul defence and mentoring the front row players.

Speaking of his appointment George Chuter said:

“I’ve played professional rugby for 18 years and I think I’ve got bits and pieces that the guys can pick up. The guys we have got here, they are very ambitious and I think I’ve got some of the answers to the questions they have got.

“It’s a different atmosphere to what I’ve been used to, in that professional rugby is all about winning and results, whereas here it’s also about developing players.

“But I enjoy this level of rugby where the lads are really keen to learn. They’ve got a really good attitude to the game, they train and work hard, and are just good people to be around.”

Former scrum half Ciaran Beattie has come from the Scottish Rugby Union where he worked as a performance analyst. He was also the assistant coach at Melrose who won the Scottish Premiership last year,

Ciaran is full time and will be the lead BUCS 1 (2nd XV) coach, alongside having responsibility for defence, the backs, skills, and developing student analysts.

Speaking of his decision to come to Loughborough Ciaran Beattie said:

“I’m a new face coming in but everybody has made me feel welcome and really embraced my ideas. The Loughborough set-up was the big attraction and it is world renowned.

“It is a fantastic institution and everybody knows about it. So it’s where you want to be if you want to improve as a coach and as a player. The ethos and the culture of the place has been proven in my first week here that it is the right place to be if you want to progress.”

Dave Morris, Director of Rugby at Loughborough Students’ Rugby Union said:

“I’m delighted to have George and Ciaran join our coaching team. They have only been here for a week but straight away they have fitted in really well into the ethos and the values of the rugby club and Loughborough Sport.

“They are both at the start of their coaching journeys and I think that Loughborough is the perfect place for them to develop. I know our players will benefit greatly from them being part of our set-up.”

The first home league match of the season for Loughborough is on Saturday 13th September, 2pm kick off, against local rivals Coventry. Further details can be found here.