High-flying Codling is perfect fit for Falcons

ALEX Codling has taken a roundabout route to land a top coaching job in the Premiership – and believes his experience of different countries and leagues will help him push Newcastle up the table. 

- PAUL REES

The 49-year old former second row, who was capped by England in 2002, played for Richmond, Bedford, Harlequins, Saracens, Northampton and Montpellier. His coaching career has taken in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and France, where he guided Oyonnax to the Top 14 last season before taking up the post as the Falcons’ director of rugby in the summer.

“I have experience all over the world and that helps you adapt,” said Codling. “I would not change my coaching route. I have moved around and like testing myself in a number of different ways, not least the language and the culture.

“When I arrived at Oyonnax, I did not speak much French and had little knowledge of the group. Before the end, I was conducting meetings in French and had established a framework the players enjoyed. It was an intense but enjoyable two years there. You would often spend 11 hours on a coach and the remoteness of Oyonnax meant that I told them early on I would not be renewing my contract and wanted to return to England.