NELSON Bay Gropers have acquired the services of international rugby coach Pete Sullivan for the 2026 Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby campaign.
After an extensive coaching stint in the US in the high school rugby system, the well-credentialed mentor has relocated to Anna Bay and is keen to assist Head Coach Michael Squires with the top grade squad.
The addition of Sullivan to the Gropers’ revamped coaching panel is a huge boost for the club in its quest for the President’s Cup championship trophy.
A passionate rugby man with an impressive coaching resume, Sullvan walked into pre-season training three weeks ago offering to volunteer his services as a coaching assistant.
He went to work straight away, and has attended every training session since, offering valuable input to coach Squires and the players.
He will take up one of the club’s assistant coaching roles.
Sullivan began his rugby playing career as a crafty half back at St Pius school before transitioning to fly half with West Pymble Rugby Club.
Injury cut short his career at the age of 23 but he stayed involved in the code by assisting West Pymble’s third grade coach before heading up to Armidale the following year to study for his coaching accreditation.
Returning to Sydney, Sullivan coached his home club Killara West Pymble in the Barraclough Cup Sydney Sub Districts competition for four seasons.
Following an opportunity to go to the US, he achieved coaching success with various high school teams and men’s squads.
He coached the Valley Kangaroos club in Seattle Washington for 10 seasons in the men’s Pacific Northwest championship before guiding the Budd Bay Barbarians High School boys team in Olympia, Washington, for 13 years and High School Girls in 2013-14.
Sullivan coached the Tacoma Tsunamis High School boys squad for three seasons from 2017-19 and the PNRFU Loggers Washington representative high school boys and girls teams for over a decade.
For the past 14 years, he has been Director of the Eagle Rugby Impact Academy (ERIA) in Washington – a national academy for high school boys and girls.
Now settled in Port Stephens, the experienced campaigner is keen to help make the Gropers a force to be reckoned with in the Hunter Suburban Men’s Rugby ranks.
By Chris KARAS
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