Ella wants Wallaby job
October 24, 2001

Former Wallaby great Mark Ella has declared his intention to succeed Eddie Jones as coach of Australia.

Ella takes the reins of a club on the New South Wales central coast next year in what he hopes will be just the start of a quest that takes him all the way to the top job.

Ella, who retired prematurely at the age of 25, has had some success with the Australian Sevens team, coaching them to the bronze medal at the 1998 Commonwealth Games. He also led Italian team Milan to two national championships in the early 90s.

However, he has only now revealed his desire to eventually guide the Wallabies into the Test arena. "I wouldn't be going into coaching at all if I didn't have the ambition to coach the Wallabies... that's my goal point blank. I make no apologies for that," he told The Daily-Telegraph newspaper in Sydney.

He said he would like to be considered for the fourth Super 12 team when it comes into existence as expected in 2003 if he proves himself over the next year. "It's why I'm ready to start from scratch now, to coach a club side and to do the work to get the coaching certificates required."

"I do believe I can bring something to the table as a coach. The skills of a few sides could be improved for a start and I'm talking top teams here. I want to coach and I do have aspirations. I am not going to hide that.

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