Tonga’s Pat Pellegrini quits Coventry for Super Rugby
COVENTRY'S Premiership promotion bid has been dealt a blow with star man Pat Pellegrini leaving to join Super Rugby's Moana Pasifika.
The New Zealand-based franchise bought out the last year of the flyhalf's Coventry contract.
Pellegrini won caps at last year's World Cup and scored a memorable try against world champions South Africa. He joins a squad of players with Pacific Island heritage at Moana Pasifika's Auckland base.
The 25-year-old Sydney-born playmaker has enjoyed two outstanding seasons at Butts Park, in which he played 39 times.
He finished last season as the top points scorer in the second tier, was selected alongside half-back partner Will Chudley in The Rugby Paper's Championship Dream Team and received the Coventry supporters' player-of-the-year award.
Tongan departs
Pellegrini said: “Coventry is a great club and I've had two brilliant years there. The club has been massive in my development. The Championship is a really good stepping-stone into top-level rugby. It is a league crammed full of talent and playing with and against players of that standard week-in, week-out has helped me develop.
“I have to give a massive thank you to everyone that has helped me over the last two years and especially to the fans for their incredible support.”
Coventry head coach Alex Rae said: “We're sorry to see Pat move on but also pleased for him and wish him every success.
“Having one of our players recruited by a Super Rugby franchise also says plenty about the rugby programme we run.
“In the last six months we have seen three players who joined us from student or lower league rugby make the move to the Premiership and now Super Rugby.
“We are very proud of that.”
Elsewhere, Coventry's centre Will Wand joined Leicester Tigers this summer. In addition, Rae swooped for Newcastle scrum-half Josh Barton to replace Chudley who has retired.
New coach
Better news for Coventry is the appointment of Steve Boden as first team assistant and academy pathway coach.
The 41-year-old former Doncaster Knights director of rugby joins with immediate effect. He will play a full part in pre-season as the club seeks to build on consecutive third-place Championship finishes.
Rae is excited to add the former hooker to his coaching group.
“Steve is someone I've known a long time,” Rae said. “We are really pleased to bring someone into the coaching group of his quality and experience. His main responsibility will be the scrum and I truly believe he's got the potential to be world-class in this area.
“He's got a proven track record for developing young props. And we're excited to see him get to work with our group.”
READ MORE: Cambridge and Chinnor ruled out of Premiership Cup
