When London Irish went into administration two seasons ago, Jonathan Fisher was among those who suddenly found themselves out of a job.
He was on the coaching staff of the club he had played for after coming through the academy. He had stints with Bedford, Northampton and Bristol, but his attachment was with the Exiles.
Less than five months after Irish folded, Fisher found himself on the other side of the world having taken a big step into the unknown with the Queensland Reds.
“If someone had said two years ago that I would be living in Brisbane and coaching a Super Rugby side, I would have said they were mad,” said Fisher who was back at one of his former clubs on Friday night when the Reds took on Bristol at Ashton Gate.
Traumatic
“What happened at Irish was a traumatic experience. I had been in junior teams there, played for the seniors and came back as a coach.
“The club had a significant role in my life and what happened was horribly sad.
“It was a slow death although the end was abrupt. Did we think it was too big to fail? It just did not make sense that a club with that history fell over.
“It was a special place, a big part of my life and I made lifelong friends there.
“It is in the rear view mirror now.”
Down Under
Fisher found himself in sunny Queensland after an approach from the side’s head coach Les Kiss, who had also been among the victims when London Irish went under.
“When I asked my wife if she fancied moving to Australia, her jaw nearly hit the floor,” said Fisher. “It is a wonderful experience after spending much of my life in London and a blessing with young children given the weather.
“From a coaching perspective, it is a significant challenge as you have to get used to a different competition and style of play.
“I had a few conversations with Les before deciding and I knew that having worked with him and admired the way he led the team and the coaching group that it would be an invaluable experience.
“I had other offers, mainly in England, and I both love the Premiership and feel I have unfinished business in it, but while as a professional coach you might think you have the ability to influence your destiny, the universe has a funny way of smiling.”
The state of Australian Rugby
When Fisher arrived in Australia, the game there was at a low point.
The Wallabies had failed to make it out of the group stage at the World Cup, the Rebels in Melbourne were in financial strife and players were being eyed up by European and Japanese clubs.
“I was very much aware of the negativity surrounding Australian rugby when I arrived, but what I see on the field and in the environment at the Reds is very different,” he said.
There are some very gifted players there, fantastic athletes who are able to play the game in a certain way and inspire.
“You are starting to see the best of Australian rugby at international level and I think the series against the Lions will be a significant contest over the three Tests.
“Australia are developing confidence and Joe Schmidt (head coach) has given them confidence tactically which, as they showed in Europe in the autumn, has produced a style that plays to their strengths.
“Joe is big on ball speed and putting defences under pressure. I have full confidence that they will start getting significant results and after emerging from a dark period, the future is exciting.”
Pathway Investment
Fisher coached London Irish’s Under-18 side after the back rower ended his playing career in 2017 and spent a year as a pathway consultant with England. It is an area he feels Australia need to focus on.
“There needs to be more investment in the pathway,” he said.
“There is no shortage of talent coming through the system, but they are competing with other sports for players.
“England have got it right with their programmes and you are seeing it in the Premiership where owners have recognised the need for more attacking, entertaining rugby to grow the game.
“Players coming through the system want to play, to score and that mentality is filtering through, which is important for the game. There is beauty in a 9-6 dogfight, but not every week if you want the sport to become bigger and more popular.
“As a boy, I loved getting up early to watch Super Rugby matches, marvelling at the pace and skill. The tournament is different without South African sides, but it is still exhilarating and the challenge is for an Australian team to win it.”
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