Tom Fearn Returns to Head Nedlands Centre of Coaching Excellence

Nedlands has achieved a significant coaching coup with the appointment of former Emirates Western Force assistant coach Tom Fearn as its inaugural Director of Coaching for 2010.

Tom’s appointment is part of a “coaching centre of excellence” being created by new Neddies President Hans Sauer, who took over from Murray McLean at the club’s AGM on November 26.

Tom is joined down at The Foreshore by two other Premier Grade coaches from last season, Willie van Dyk (Rockingham) and Steve McCullough (Associates). Willie will be coaching the Colts in 2010, while Steve will be assisting Tony Ball with the Premier Grade team. From all Neddies players and supporters, a big welcome to The Foreshore to both Willie and Steve.

In addition, the club welcomes back another of its favourite sons in the highly-credentialed Dave McKnight, whose list of successes during a long and distinguished association with Neddies has included Premiership victories in 1st Grade through to Colts. Dave will be the club’s Assistant Director of Coaching. Great to have you back Dave.

New President Hans said that building a “coaching centre of excellence” was part of a strategy by Nedlands to develop emerging talent in the Perth rugby competition to provide a feeder system for the Emirates Western Force.

As a player with Nedlands, Tom Fearn won a record six 1st Grade Premierships before taking up coaching in 1997. He guided Nedlands to Premiership victory in 1999 and 2000. After coaching the WA State team in 2001, Fearn went on to coach Wests Subiaco to three consecutive Premiership victories in 2003, 2004 and 2005.

That track record earned Fearn selection as one of John Mitchell’s assistant at the Emirates Western Force in the team’s inaugural 2006 Super 14 season, a position he held for four years.

The Nedlands coaching panel for 2010 also includes two other accredited ARU coaching examiners in Bryn Vaughan and Brendan Loag. There’s plenty more quality through the coaching ranks through the likes of Pete Sinden, Marty Fitzsimmons, Trent Gainey and Boycie McClutchie.

The 2010 will also be a milestone for Nedlands as the club pursues a much-anticipated $500,000 redevelopment of its club house at The Foreshore in Nedlands.

Of course, last year Neddies fielded a record nine senior teams and took home the WA Club Championship. The Neddies 1st Grade team also continued a remarkable record that has seen them make the finals for no fewer than 27 consecutive seasons – an achievement which would be the envy of any rugby club in the world.

With our coaching centre of excellence, we aim to improve our standards even further in 2010 to keep Neddies at the top of WA rugby. So bring it on….!!


Tom Fearn Returns to Head Nedlands Centre of Coaching Excellence