THE Jersey Touch Association has a new weapon in its armoury as it prepares for the forthcoming season and the 2007 World Cup.

Kiwi teacher Dan McDowell – a former member of the New Zealand Barbarians touch team – has been appointed part-time coach in Jersey.

He’s on a four-month contract, providing eight hours coaching a week.

‘I found out about the job from a friend who told me Jersey was looking for a coach to help them in their preparations for the World Cup,’ McDowell said.

He had been teaching at a school in Amsterdam for the last eight months but was keen to try for the coaching post and plans to seek supply teaching work in the Island.

He met the Jersey touch players at a training session this week and renewed contact with several players he met last year while visiting with a New Zealand team.

‘My first task is to see where the team is at and what I have to work with, and I hope I can bring the things I’ve learned in New Zealand and in international competition, to help the Jersey players,’ he said.

‘I’m optimistic.

There’s a really nice culture in Jersey touch and some great personalities, as well as good levels of skill.

We did a bit of skills training and had some games.

I think it went very well.

I’m very much looking forward to helping to mould the Jersey side in both skills and the team ethic.

And I’m sure I’ll be extending my own skills and knowledge in the process.’ Mark White, ex-officio member of the JTA and also Jersey’s rugby development officer has welcomed McDowell’s arrival: ‘Kevin McGinty has done a great job over the last few years, as have the other touch coaches, but we are now at the stage where we needed a specialist coach who has played at the highest levels.

He will be coaching the Island side and some of our coaches, but he will also be working in schools, on development, and with the league.’ McDowell’s impressive sporting CV includes rugby trials for New Zealand at U19 level.

Now 25, he started playing touch when he was a 12-year-old and played for the New Zealand Barbarians in 2003 and for the New Zealand universities, on their World Tour and at the European championships in 2004.

‘I am passionate about the game of touch, which is really big in New Zealand,’ he said.

‘It’s still fairly new in Europe but it’s become so popular and is growing very fast.

There are a lot of Aussie and Kiwi coaches around, spreading the word in Europe.’ The Jersey Touch League is sponsored by Ernst and Young.