Super Rugby
Stiles joins Force coaching staff
ESPNscrum Staff
November 18, 2010
Queensland prop Nick Stiles, Queensland Reds v Highlanders, Super 12, Ballymore, Brisbane, April 1, 2005
Nick Stiles has joined the Western Force as forwards coach © Getty Images
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Nick Stiles has bolstered the Western Force's backroom ranks by signing up as the franchise's forwards coach.

The former Wallaby prop joins the Force prior to next year's Super Rugby campaign, having spent the last five years in Japan with Kubota Spears.

Capped 12 times by Australia between 2001-02, the 37-year-old Stiles will link up with head coach and former Queensland team-mate Richard Graham at the Force.

"It is really perfect timing now, when I went into coaching I didn't want to rush things, I wanted to do my time and learn the ropes so that if there was an opportunity to come back into Super Rugby I'd feel confident and comfortable that I had done the work," Stiles said.

"There is a great mix of players in the forwards at the club and that blend can be a wonderful strength for us. The back-row is obviously a standout with Wallabies in each position and then the outstanding leadership and experience of Sharpie [Nathan Sharpe] in the second-row.

"To be a successful team you need to have a good front-row and there are boys that can definitely get the job done in the tough Super Rugby environment."

Graham sought the advice of former Australia boss Eddie Jones, an advisor to Japanese side Suntory, before recruiting Stiles and received a positive review.

"I spoke with Eddie Jones a number of times throughout the appointment and Eddie spoke very highly of Nick's forward pack in Japan, commenting on how well they were coached,"he said. "Nick made the move to Japan to challenge himself and find further opportunity in professional rugby and as a consequence has been able to develop the skills to get his message across to a mixed group, from international standard players through to company employees."

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