That sentiment comes from being a born and bred Victorian who is now part of the Rebels’ three-pronged Super W coaching set up, residing under Head Coach Alana Thomas and alongside fellow Assistant Coach Aaron Callister.
Following his pathway to coaching in the Rebels’ women’s team, Piva-Giblett’s love for the game can be traced back to his days playing the game he loves at Melbourne’s Xavier College.
It was there where Piva-Giblett plied his trade as a player, to then ultimately move into the coaching sphere.
“I was pretty lucky that I was invited to coach when I finished high school,” Piva-Giblett said.
“While I was at university I was coaching at Xavier and I was playing at different clubs.“Over time, injuries limited the opportunities I was being given in the local pathway and it made sense to transition from being a player to being a coach.”
Piva-Giblett hit the ground running as a coach, where he immediately took up various coaching roles at Xavier, which spanned from 2009-2015, including coaching the school’s 1st XV team.
After his coaching days at Xavier, Piva-Giblett earned his first role at club level, coaching the Colts team at the Melbourne University Rugby Club between 2016-2017, while also earning jobs in the Victorian Rugby Union, mentoring the Under 12’s in 2016 and the Under 14’s and 15’s in 2017.
And after also spending 2018 as the 1st XV Assistant Coach to the Melbourne University Men’s team in Premier Grade rugby, Piva-Giblett enters this chapter as a Super W Assistant Coach with a wealth of experience.
It’s why the 28-year-old believes he can use his knowledge of the game and similar age profile to the playing group as a means to be a more approachable Assistant Coach.
“Because I’m younger (than most coaches), I guess I can understand their (players) situation, their lives, what their rugby journey looks like because I’ve been a part of the Victorian rugby scene at a similar time,” Piva-Giblett said.
“I just want to be as much help as possible, being an Assistant Coach is a lot of empathy and understanding and also using that understanding to get the most out of the group.
”Looking ahead at the opportunity to work with the state’s premier women’s team, Piva-Giblett is says he is looking forward to leaving a positive mark on up and coming talent as well as supporting players who are putting their hand up for Wallaroos selection.
Another aspect which Piva-Giblett is excited about is the chance to work under the Rebels logo, something which has been a long-time ambition.
“I guess coaching Super W for the first time is the first program I’ve ever coached where it’s under a Rebels badge,” Piva-Giblett said.“I’ve coached a lot of programs that are in that pathway under the Rugby Victoria part, but to coach under the Rebels, that’s a massive step up.”
“This is the first program that I’ve been a part of with this much training load, so that’s why it’s a massive opportunity to help develop these players.”
