Former England U20 boss and Bath lock Martin Haag has made a return to frontline coaching as a consultant with the USA women's team.
Haag, 57, was in camp with the women's Eagles at Life University in Atlanta this week as the team steps up preparations for the World Cup in New Zealand this autumn.
After returning home for a short break, Haag will return to the States next weekend for the second week of camp and will be part of Rob Cain's coach ing team when they tour the UK later this summer and also at the World Cup.
The women's Eagles are to play two World Cup warm-ups against Scotland and England, with Exeter's Sandy Park pencilled in to be the venue for the latter fixture, before they travel to New Zealand for the World Cup.
USA are in Pool B and face fixtures against neighbours Canada, Italy and Japan. The tournament begins on October 8.
Haag was supposed to go to New Zealand for the Pacific Four Series in June, where the women's Eagles had a narrow win over Australia and lost heavily to Canada and New Zealand, but the timing was not right. The role with USA is Haag's first international appointment since he became one of the victims of the Dean Ryan cull at the RFU along with other highlyrespected figures such as John Fletcher, Peter Walton and Russell Earnshaw.
Haag had not long led England to World Rugby U20 Championship title in 2016 – their last title – before Ryan wielded the axe. It was a baffling decision that looks even more unfathomable now as England have been beaten in two finals since and were nowhere to be seen when the tournament was last staged in Argentina in 2019.
Haag's only direct involvement in pro/semipro rugby post-England U20s was as head coach of Normandy outfit Rouen, a role he vacated in November 2018.
Georgia did recently approach Haag to be their new Head of High Performance, a role previously held by Pete Drewett and David Humphreys, but he turned them down due to family and work commitments.
Since Rouen, Haag has worked as lead of the performance team at Transition 15, the Bathbased company founded by ex-England and Bath fullback Matt Perry that helps corporate clients to maximise the potential of their staff,
Given his CV, it is surprise that it has taken so long for someone to call on Haag's on-field expertise again. Prior to his England U20 appointment, Haag coached at Bristol and Bath in the Premiership before doing wonders at Nottingham on a limited budget in the Championship.
