Friend will join the Australian Sevens programme from Japanese club Suntory Sungoliath at the conclusion of the current Japan Top League season later this month.
Prior to his four seasons in Japan, the 46-year-old was previously in charge of the ACT Brumbies, Head Coach at English Premiership club Harlequins, coaching assistant at the NSW Waratahs and ACT Brumbies and was part of the Wallabies coaching set-up in 2002 and 2003.
Current interim boss Scott Bowen and the coaching staff at the Australian Sevens centralised base in Narrabeen will prepare the team in the lead up to the Wellington and Sydney legs of the 2015-16 HSBC Sevens World Series.
Friend said: “I am thrilled and honoured to be given the opportunity to coach the Australian Men’s Sevens team. The Australian squad that has been developed over the last few seasons shows great promise, and I’m very excited about working with those players.
Friend, who replaces Geraint John as Australian Men’s Sevens Head Coach, will lead the Australian men’s side in its first-ever Olympic campaign in Rio in August.
Source: African News Agency (ANA)
