Peter Playford, former Waratah and Brumbies utility-back, is currently out of playing top-flight rugby with a long-term hamstring injury, but is keeping himself busy during the 12 month recovery period through coaching the SUFC Colts teams.
Peter is looking to model himself on Steve Surridge (former SUFC 1st Grade & Premiership winning coach) by not making coaching his only career option. Steve Surridge was a Cambridge and engineering graduate working for Ernst & Young whilst coaching at SUFC.
Peter is making good use of his 5 years of undergraduate economics and post-grad finance study by establishing a career within the marketing and sales sector. He has recently been called up for a second round of interviews with a well established Sydney firm. This being the first set of formal interviews Peter has ever experienced in his life.
“The Sydney Uni Club has done so much for me over the past 5 years in helping me develop my playing ability, education and career options. All I am trying to do is put a little bit back into the club, by helping out the colts teams on Tuesday and Thursday nights.”
“The whole coaching set-up is fantastic and similar to a professional team, with specialist coaches looking after their little patch. Al Kanaar looks after the forwards and lineout, I get to run the backline attack and defence, as well as help develop the kicking skills of players, whilst Nick Ryan brings it all together by overseeing the team tactics and preparation for each match.”
Nick Ryan, SUFC Colts Technical Director said, “Peter is working with the Colts program on team attack, backline and kicking skills. He has made a tremendous impression as he has brought knowledge from his experiences as a professional footballer and practically applied to the Colts players.
Peter has been extremely innovative with his drills and concepts about backline play and team attack. Not only does Peter possess a great feel and knowledge for the game, he has high-end communication skills which has led him to have an excellent rapport with the players and coaches.
Peter has improved the shape and execution of our attack. With 8 weeks to go before the finals, I can only see the combinations and consistency getting better.”
“If Peter wishes to put up with the stress of a coaching career, I firmly believe he will go as far as he wants to go in coaching, judging by his work thus far with the Colts program.”
