EDINBURGH EVENING NEWS REPORTS

Tukalo: I'm ready to plug in to Scots club scene again
BILL LOTHIAN
([email protected])
IWAN TUKALO today revealed he would not hesitate to re-enter the field of rugby if circumstances allowed.

But he also admitted that he'd underestimated what was required to emulate his heroics on the pitch when he failed as a coach at Heriot's.

Iframes/JavaScript Tags: The ex-Scotland winger spoke for the first time about his decision to quit Heriot's 18 months ago.

"If there are opportunities and I'm able to contribute in some capacity I would not say no to getting involved again," said the 46-year-old, who was speaking at the launch of the new Premiership and National League seasons on Saturday which are sponsored by his employers, Scottish Hydro Electric.

But the 37-cap ace also admitted: "Sometimes it does not translate that if you can do it on the pitch you can stand on the other side of the white line and do it from that perspective."

Tukalo bowed out immediately after Heriot's suffered a 50-point defeat to an already relegated opponent and a Scottish Cup embarrassment against Second Division rivals. He finally re-surfaced again in rugby circles yesterday.

He said: "If I am being brutally honest I am not as good a coach as some of the guys who are currently out there."

Tukalo's playing CV includes a Grand Slam and a World Cup semi-final appearance so why does he feel he could not get closer to emulating trophy successes when swapping boots for clipboard?

"At the time I was coaching Heriot's my job was based in Perth, as it still is. The reality is I did not appreciate how much had changed in club rugby so far as commitment is concerned.

"Trouble was come 4.30pm each Tuesday and Thursday evenings I began looking at my watch and think I had to get on the road to Goldenacre to take training and over a period that is unsustainable when holding down the type of job I enjoy.

"I always wanted to have an opportunity to coach and getting the chance to take over from Phil Smith at Heriot's was a golden opportunity.

"I did have a long chat with Phil and Kenny Milne [then Heriot's director of rugby] and, although I said I was ready to offer commitment, I found players are so much more demanding.

"When I was playing at Selkirk the captain would roll up and say 'right, what will we do tonight?'

"Nowadays to achieve the pro ranks players are having to reach a much higher standard.

"Training has to be structured, well organised and intense throughout - and that takes preparation.

"You start by analysing and video tagging games to see how your players are doing and, when it gets to that level, it is more than just a pastime.

"It requires a lot of commitment and I take my hat off to the guys who continue to coach clubs.

"For me it became a case of not being able to do the job justice. I let the players down," said Tukalo in a revealing insight into high standards in the sometimes maligned SHEB club leagues. While taking responsibility for his results Tukalo is adamant the role of coach can be rewarding, saying: "If people have got flexibility there is nothing greater than to see your side beat Glasgow Hawks five tries to one away from home with the training moves and team-talk coming into play.

"Unfortunately there were more downs than ups towards the end for me but I did learn a lot.

"People don't give club rugby enough credit given what goes in and what the supporters don't see is players doing extra weight training and so on."

With the dexterity that brought him 15 Test touchdowns including a place among the leading World Cup try-scorers of all time with seven, Tukalo skirts many of the controversies engulfing the current game.

But he does acknowledges the type of conflicts of interest that can arise, saying: "I have friends who have affiliation to no particular club so they watch Edinburgh. It would be good if they watched grassroots rugby as well.

"The club game has got itself back on its feet again but I don't see any way it can take over what is already in place.

"The SRU has tried to move things forward and should not be criticised for wanting to do that.

"What I wouldn't rule out is traditional clubs going into the second tier of European competition at some stage and everybody can work towards a situation where they could enter without being guaranteed heavy beatings.

"Raising standards is vital and look at Glasgow where [coach] Sean Lineen is bolstering his side with overseas players.

"With more talent in Scotland Sean would be the first to pull them in and, on the eve of the new Scottish Hydro Electric Leagues, producing players is the challenge for everyone involved as well as raising standards so that clubs can get a foothold in Europe. To me it is achievable

This article was posted on 30-Aug-2007, 21:55 by Hugh Barrow.