Bombay will enter the 2021 McNamara Cup Counties Manukau Rugby competition with a new coach with former Steelers prop Sam Aiono appointed as head coach.
The reigning champions from 2019 have undergone some change in the off-season and Aiono, fresh off being forced into early retirement due to injury, has been given the reins of a club that has won five of the past six completed McNamara Cups.
He was a club favourite during his playing days but can he now take the side back to the promised land as a coach?
Aiono’s most recent former club Papakura has new coaches as well as they look to make a climb up the standings this season. Former Ardmore Marist assistant Kerry Petrie will serve as head coach with ex-Te Kauwhata mentor Pat Flavell his assistant.
Patumahoe has brought back the experienced Reon Graham to work alongside the talented Kaino Kaino for the 2021 season.
Kaino was involved coaching the side as an assistant in 2020 while Graham had 2020 off but had been coach of the club for a number of years prior to that and took Patumahoe to an extra time epic final against Ardmore Marist in 2018.
Newcomers Weymouth have yet to announce their head coach with the club returning to the Premier fold this season.
Waiuku and Onewhero are also yet to lock in their coaches but are well advanced in the process and should have confirmation shortly.
Doug Sanft returns as the head coach of Ardmore Marist in 2021 while also returning is Craig Hill at Karaka, Jeremy Clark at Manurewa and Sean Polwart at Pukekohe.
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