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Paul Munyuki Sports Reporter
A FEW months after ruining Zimbabwe’s World Cup dream, Zimbabwe Rugby Union director of rugby Liam Middleton was yesterday appointed coach of the Canada Sevens men’s side.
His appointment comes ahead of the start of the International Rugby Board World Sevens Series 2014-15 seasons that gets underway in Australia in two weeks time and Canada are a core member of the series.

Middleton, who had grown unpopular in the ZRU corridors as he personally grabbed coaching jobs from both the Cheetahs and Sables coaches without the blessing of the executive board, is expected to take over as Canada coach ahead of their Olympic qualification season. The former Cheetahs coach not only ruined the team’s core membership qualifiers but was responsible for failing to take Zimbabwe through to the 2015 World Cup after he ordered for a kicking-tee where Zimbabwe needed a try against Kenya in the final qualifier.

Middleton, who has a long reputation as a talent developer, will have to show that he’s got the what it takes to take Canada to the next level in the coming Sevens World Series season, as well as at the Rio Olympics. Middleton, however, has not been successful with Zimbabwe rugby where he failed to take the Sevens side to core membership in Hong Kong six months ago before he again failed to take the Sables to the 2015 World Cup.

Reports from Canada indicate that Middleton will start his duties subject to Canadian immigration requirements being met.

In the meantime, the current interim coaching structure — lead by Kieran Crowley — will remain in place until the Zimbabwean and his family can move to Langford, British Columbia, and assume day-to-day duties.

“We’re very excited to have Liam joining our coaching staff,” said Canada Rugby High Performance manager Steve Lancaster.

“We went through an extensive application and interview process, and there were a number of highly qualified candidates from around the world, including one Canadian,” Lancaster said on Canada Rugby website rugbycanada.ca.

Canada will face England, Argentina and USA at the upcoming IRB World Series opener next month in Australia.

Canada will be determined to start 2014-15 in stronger fashion than last season when they agonisingly missed out on Cup qualification due to points’ difference. But Middleton feels he can turn the fortunes for Canada.

“Canada is an athletic group who bring a level of physicality to the field, importantly they play to their strengths and have scored some great tries,” said Middleton.

“They are a team with growing potential and a good team spirit; I’m looking forward to joining the team and getting a better understanding of the team culture and performance environment that they operate in both on and off the field.

“I think it’s clear that this will be the most contested World Series to date with the level of competition rising significantly on previous years with Olympic Qualification on offer for the teams that finish in the top four.

“I believe there is a place at the top table for Canada 7s, and each tournament provides an opportunity for us to strive for that,” said Middleton.

Middleton has enjoyed coaching stints at English Championship side Bristol where he was fired early last year, Hartpury College in Gloucester, South Africa’s Howick High School, before becoming director of rugby at ZRU, where he had also been Sevens head coach since 2004.

In 2011-12, his first season in charge at Bristol, his team finished first in the Championship regular season but then lost in the promotion play-off semi final to the Cornish Pirates. Former Scotland and England coach Andy Robinson was brought in the next season as director of rugby and with the club sitting mid-table in January 2013.

Middleton was let go in favour of Robinson, who’d only been at Bristol for a month.

He also won the British and Irish Cup with Bristol.