Mitchell leaves Force, takes over Lions

Australian rugby's first show of faith in a former All Blacks coach ended unsuccessfully today when John Mitchell predictably ended his six-year reign at the Western Force.

Mitchell, a controversial figure since his appointment as the Perth-based Super rugby franchise's inaugural coach in 2005, announced he will remain in South Africa, where he is currently guiding the Lions in this season's Currie Cup.

Mitchell, who announced in April he would not seeking to prolong his stay in Perth once his current contract expired next year, will remain in Johannesburg with the Lions for next season's inaugural Super 15.

He failed to lead the Force to a semifinal appearance despite a squad boasting some of Australia's leading players, there had been suggestions senior members of his roster did not gel with the 46-year-old.

In late 2008 rumours surfaced of a rift between Mitchell, senior players and support staff, a Rugby WA-led inquiry subsequently had to mediate between the parties and restrictions were placed "on his activities as head coach".

Three games into this year's Super 14 Mitchell announced that he would not be renewing his contract and in May he was linked to the struggling Lions franchise, where 2003 World Cup first five-eighth Carlos Spencer is on the coaching staff.

The Force eventually took the unusual step of granting Mitchell leave to join the Lions for their Currie Cup campaign - the first time in Super rugby history a club has allowed their head coach to join a rival organisation while he was still under contract to them.

Speaking from South Africa, Mitchell acknowledged the fluctuations of his tenure.

"Like any organisation, you have your highs and lows, but I believe we can all look back and count a number of significant achievements," he said citing the production of Wallabies, wins over every Super rugby opponent and especially beating the three rival Australian franchises in 2009.

RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke said rugby in Western Australia owed a great deal to Mitchell.

"John worked passionately and diligently in setting up the Western Force rugby programme from the ground up," he said.

"He was one of the key catalysts in achieving our objectives of growing rugby in Western Australia and growing Wallabies, achievements that cannot be underestimated."

Current Force assistant coach Richard Graham, named as Mitchell's successor for 2012, will now start the role a season early.

He will be tasked with improving on a moderate record that saw the Force finish 13th in this year's Super 14 -- only ahead of the Lions -- after winning just four games.

In 2009 the club finished eighth, the same position they occupied on the ladder in 2008. Their best placing was seventh, in 2007, after they had ended 14th and last in their debut season of 2006.

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