Rugby local to coach uni team

Former Woy Woy Rugby Union first grade coach and twice winning coach of the Central Coast Waves, Ross Hopkins, has been appointed head coach of New South Wales Uni Blues.

Mr Hopkins, who is the head coach of Gordon second grade and was that club's Coach of the Year in 2007, said he was delighted to be appointed.

"I was the coach the last time this game was played in 2005, and this game is treated as a State of Origin in the University Rugby program in Australia," Mr Hopkins said.

"We won that game easily and I am sure that the Reds will be eager to win back the trophy.

"This game is a selection process for the Australian University rugby team so it is played with plenty of passion and intensity."

Mr Hopkins was flown to the US to coach in Wisconsin late last year to take the University based in Madison to the Midwest play-off's for the first time in a number of years.

Mr Hopkins said he has certainly had a successful run of appointments after leaving Woy Woy in 2005, after getting the Lions to successive first grade final series.

"I have been coaching senior rugby for close on 20 years so it is certainly nice to putting my experience into coaching into these representative games," Mr Hopkins said.

The NSW Uni Blues will play the Uni Reds at Ballymore Oval, Brisbane and also Queensland Country on the Gold Coast in April.

Press release, 23 Mar 2008 Ross Hopkins, Woy Woy Rugby Union