Sevens: Sean Horan is named as new Bay of Plenty men's coach

Sean Horan returns to top level coaching. PHOTO/FILE

Bay of Plenty Rugby has appointed Sean Horan as head coach for the 2018 Bay of Plenty men's sevens team.

Horan has an extensive coaching career. He was in charge of the Black Ferns Sevens Rio Olympics silver medallists from 2012 to 2016 after previously being the head coach of the Bay of Plenty Steamers from 2009 until 2011.

Horan says he is excited about the opportunity and the prospect of again working alongside Steve Miln, his assistant coach at the Steamers.

"I'm really pleased to be back at the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union. It means a lot to me personally and getting to work with Steve again is very exciting," he says.

"The experiences I have gathered since leaving the union back in 2011 have made me a better coach now, and it's those experiences that I believe will enable us to lay a strong platform for the men's sevens programme."

With the number of talented athletes across the region, Horan is excited about the challenges of selecting the Bay of Plenty team.

"Both Steve and I believe we have an amazing talent pool in the Bay to draw on and the brand we want to play will hopefully enhance that talent. We are both Bay proud and are looking forward to the challenges and excitement that sevens rugby brings."

Bay of Plenty chief executive Mike Rogers says Horan's experience will be invaluable for the 2018 Bay of Plenty men's sevens campaign.

"We are very pleased to add Sean to our high-performance coaching group. Along with Victoria Grant, who is the New Zealand Under 18 Youth Olympic Games head coach, we have two of the very best sevens coaches leading our men's and women's sevens programmes.

"With Clayton McMillan as Steamers and Maori All Blacks head coach we are very confident we have the best people in place to help us achieve the on-field success we are targeting, but, also importantly, work as a group to grow other aspirational coaches in our region as part of our focus on ensuring we are developing great coaches."