Mike Friday

Mike Friday
Birth nameMichael John Friday
Date of birth (1972-04-25) April 25, 1972 (age 52)
Place of birthChichester, England
Height1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight78 kg (172 lb; 12 st 4 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Scrum-half
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
– London Wasps ()
– Blackheath FC ()
1997–2000 London Wasps ()
2000–2001 Harlequins ()
2001–2002 London Wasps ()
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
1998–2001 England 7s
Coaching career
Years Team
2004–2006 England 7s
2012–2013 Kenya 7s
2014–2015 London Scottish
2014–2024 USA 7s

Michael John "Mike" Friday (born April 25, 1972) has been the head coach of the United States national rugby sevens team since summer 2014. Friday succeeded the previous coach, Matt Hawkins, following the 2013–14 World Series. On 30 September 2024 USA Rugby announced that Friday would be replaced by Simon Amor.[1]

Friday had previously served as head coach for the national rugby sevens teams of England from 2004 to 2006, and Kenya from 2012 to 2013.

Playing career

Friday was born in Chichester, England. Friday played professional rugby 15s for various teams, including the London Wasps and Harlequins. He captained the England national rugby sevens team, including at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and the 2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[2] While at Wasps he helped them win the Anglo-Welsh Cup in 1999 and 2000; he was a replacement in both finals.[3][4]

England (2001–2006)

Friday served for three years as assistant coach to Joe Lydon of the England national rugby sevens team. Friday then became the head coach of the England 7s team near the end of the 2003/2004 season.[5] He resigned from the role at the end of 2006 to take up a business role in the City of London.

In June 2010 Friday announced his involvement in RuckingBall.com, an online community for the development of school-boy rugby, coaches and parents.

Kenya (2012–13)

Mike Friday was appointed as coach of the Kenya national rugby sevens team on 25 May 2012 by the Kenya Rugby Football Union.[6] He led the Kenya 7s team to one of its best performances in Wellington New Zealand, on 2 February 2013, to the final versus England which Kenya lost 19-24 during extra time. Friday also led Kenya to a 5th-place finish in the 2013 London Sevens. Friday led the Kenyan sevens team to a series high of 99 points in the 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series.

Friday was reportedly fired by the Director of National Squads and Elite Performance, Philip Jalang'o, barely a day after the end of the 2012–13 season. This decision was however denied by the chair of the Kenya Rugby Union Mwangi Muthee, with Philip Jalang'o losing his job as a result.[6]

United States (2014–2024)

Friday was appointed head coach of the United States national sevens team by USA Rugby CEO Nigel Melville in July 2014. Melville was Friday's coach when Friday played at London Wasps. Under Friday’s leadership, the U.S. qualified for the Olympics in 2016, 2020, and 2024.

Initially Friday concurrently retained his role as director of rugby for the England-based London Scottish professional rugby team.[2] As of May 14, 2015 it was announced that Friday was leaving the London Scottish role.[7]

On 8 August 2024 USA Rugby announced that Friday had decided to step away as U.S.A. men's sevens coach.[8]

Coaching results

The following table shows the results of national teams coached by Mike Friday in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

Season Team Finish
2004–05 England 7s 3rd
2005–06 England 7s 2nd
2012–13 Kenya 7s 5th
2014–15 United States 7s 6th
2015–16 United States 7s 6th
2016–17 United States 7s 5th
2017–18 United States 7s 6th
2018–19 United States 7s 2nd
2019–20 United States 7s 7th
2021 United States 7s 5th
2022–23 United States 7s 10th
2023–24 United States 7s 8th

References

  1. ^ Cahill, Calder. "USA Rugby appoints Simon Amor as next Head Coach to the USA Men's Sevens". eagles.rugby. USA Rugby. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Friday appointed Men's Eagles Sevens head coach" Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine, USA Rugby, 18 July 2014.
  3. ^ "Wasps win Cup at last". BBC. 16 May 1999. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  4. ^ "Wasps deny Saints cup double". BBC. 13 May 2000. Retrieved 10 October 2019.
  5. ^ "Rugby Football Union - Mike Friday England Sevens profile". Archived from the original on 2006-11-08. Retrieved 2006-07-09.
  6. ^ a b "Daily Nation - Breaking News, Kenya, Africa, Politics, Business, Sports | HOME". nation.co.ke. Retrieved 2016-09-03.
  7. ^ "Mike Friday Leaving London Scottish" This is American Rugby
  8. ^ Cahill, Calder. "Head Coach Mike Friday announces he'll step away from the USA Men's Sevens program". eagle.news. USA Rugby. Retrieved 3 November 2024.