In reading David Campese’s book “The Last of the Dream Sellers”, I was fascinated by the name Geoff Mould, a rugby coach. Mould’s approach to the game, as outlined in the book, emphasized running rugby and scoring tries, eschewing tactics like kicking and scrums. He coached Mark Ella, a proponent of the “father of running rugby” Cyril Towers, focusing on close-quarters support game and simple passing. Mould’s influence on the Australian team led some of the backline moves used in the early 1980s to trickle down from Matraville High School.
He believed in coaching the basic principles of the game at entry level, emphasizing handling, tackling, and running. Mould stressed the importance of attacking from any position on the field, focusing on supreme fitness and team support. His coaching style led the Australian Schoolboys to a string of successes in 1977/78 tour of England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and France. Several Wallabies arose from this team.
Geoff Mould was a multi-talented individual who played rugby, cricket, and represented Australia in baseball. He also had a passion for art and became an art teacher before settling into his role as a Physical Education teacher and rugby coach. His coaching philosophy reflects the values of an efficient rugby coach. Despite his retirement, Mould’s impact on schoolboy rugby and player development remains relevant, offering valuable lessons to coaches today.