Bond University has recruited Super W championship-winning coach Rob Baumann to steer the club’s Premier Women's Rugby program for 2023.
Baumann arrives on the Gold Coast with an extensive resume at the elite level having coached the NSW Waratahs to a maiden Super W title in 2018 as well as winning three national championships as head coach of the NSW women's team.
Baumann, a Queenslander, arrives at Bond full of excitement at the opportunity that lies ahead.
“We recently relocated back to Queensland, my family is here, we bought a house here and it's a beautiful spot for rugby,” he said.
“With Bond having the only Premier Women's team on the Gold Coast, I was hopeful an opportunity would come up and I was happy it did, giving me the chance to keep progressing with my coaching career.”
Baumann joins Bond rugby at a time the women’s program is coming off its best season. The Bull Sharks took out the Queensland Premier Women’s Rugby competition for the first time before going on to dominate the Sevens season, but the new coach is keeping level-headed as a new challenge awaits.
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“If you focus on last year, it can be your undoing,” he said.
“We just have to see what players we have onboard and hopefully we have strong player retention.
“I will be able to have a look at some video of the areas we need to improve on but I think it's just about moving forward because we know, being the champions, everyone will be gunning for us.”
Alongside Baumann will be 2022 Sevens championship coach Lawrence Faifua who has been promoted into the coaching coordinator position for the women's program while working as assistant coach with the 15s side.
Baumann plans to bring his own coaching style and approach to the Bull Sharks’ exciting brand of rugby in 2023.
“I’m a pretty relaxed, easy-going guy and I know the importance of communication but in terms of playing style, I’m not set in my ways,” he said.
"I’ll see what system works best for us but there may be the opportunity to tweak some things as other teams would have seen the footage from last year.”
Outgoing head coach Setu Naseri departs Bond for new coaching opportunities overseas.
His tenure culminated with a triple crown of premierships in 2022.
The premier women begin their title defence on March 25 against the Wests Bulldogs.