The All Blues Women’s Premier League (WPL) team is pleased to announce the addition of two excellent coaches for the 2019 season.
João Moura, hailing from southern Portugal, grew up with the sport of rugby. João has been coaching rugby for the past 20 years and has honed his skills within the last 12 years working in full time coaching positions.
João, licensed in physical education and sport at university, began coaching at the Rugby Club of Loule in 1999 and stayed for 8 seasons. In 2007, João moved to Lisbon where he coached the U16 and U18 levels at Belenenses Rugby, with his U16 team winning a National Championship in the 2008 season. During this time he also began collaborating with the Associação de Rugby do Sul. In 2010, João went to work with the Federação Portuguesa de Rugby; while working with Portugal Rugby, João also coached Benfica Rugby, where he led the women’s 1st team to a Super Cup, a National Championship, and a Seven’s Circuit win in the 2012/2013 season. João has most recently worked towards championships with AAIS Agronomia Rugby as well as GDS Cascais Rugby.
João says of his own background: "I am a rugby passionate person, I have been around the game since I was 9!"
The All Blues are excited to welcome João as their head coach for the WPL season. Supporting João as a primarily forwards focused coach, Gary Gordon will be stepping into the role as Assistant Coach for the 2019 WPL season.
Gary began his rugby career as a player for SFFG and Santa Rosa Rugby. With Santa Rosa, Gary won two National Championships as a player. Gary then went on to create the Dixon Youth Rugby Club, currently Solo Rugby, where he spent 12 years as a coach and administrator.
In the past 12 years, Gary has been acting as the Assistant/ Forwards coach for the UC Davis Women’s Rugby Team, helping the team win two National Championships. Tonya Wessman, current All Blues and former UC Davis rugby player, says of Coach Gary, “Gary has always encouraged me to test my own limits and play the highest level of rugby there is. Gary continues to encourage me long after I’ve graduated from Davis.”
Welcome to the Berkeley All Blues family, João and Gary!