RUGBY UNION
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Shannon Fraser has no intention of ducking the pressure that comes with being the first outsider to coach the famous Randwick club.
Fraser, who coached the Wollongong Vikings and NSW Country Cockatoos this season, has been hand-picked to lead the Galloping Greens in 2015.
The 36-year-old's appointment might raise a few eyebrows among Randwick's old boys, but Fraser is keen to throw himself into the role.
"I'm conscious of the challenge I'm about to take on, being the first non-Randwick person to be offered this position," he said.
"It comes with a bit of pressure because it's never been done before in the history of the club. They've taken a bit of a punt on me so there is that little bit of pressure there, but at the same time I'm excited by the challenge.
"There's a good playing roster there, the Randwick Colts have just won the premiership, so there's good youth in the club.
"It's a very strong, traditional club that plays a good brand of football. It has a fantastic alumni, and to be submerged in that environment is something I'm looking forward to."
An assistant coach with the NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship, Fraser has paid his dues over the last decade.
He was an assistant coach with Fiji for the 2007 and '11 World Cups and a NSW Waratahs assistant coach from 2004-08. He was a consultant with the Western Force in 2012 and filled a similar role with a Japanese club for three years.
Fraser's appointment with Randwick started with a cup of coffee a couple of weeks ago.
"Stephen Hoiles and Bob Dwyer got in contact with me and put the proposal together and whet my appetite a little bit about the opportunities at Randwick," the Illawarra Academy of Sport general manager said.
"It escalated from there. The vision the club has, they felt my coaching style and my experience was a good fit with where Randwick are at the moment. Over the last few days, we all got on the same page and they made the offer.
"There's a good feel within the game at the moment with the experimental laws and bringing the running back into the game, and obviously that's the foundation Randwick has had a lot of success on. I'm quite excited by that and the prospect of contributing to the tradition of the club going forward."