"I wouldn't be a coach if I wasn't here to win": meet Daniel Geurs
AAC's new men's 1XV head coach on his ambitions for the season, the four principles he has agreed with the squad, and why he wants the Colts training with the seniors.
Daniel Geurs takes charge of the men’s 1XV for 2026/27. Yvonne Craig interviewed him on 8 July.
- Name: Daniel Geurs
- Age: 53
- Birthplace: Sydney
- Siblings: an older brother and a younger sister
- Children: one son, one daughter
From soccer kid to AAC head coach
With a Dutch father, it seemed obvious that Daniel would play soccer, and he did, until the age of nine, when he simply grew too tall and made the switch to rugby. As a teenager he played rugby league until he was sixteen, then moved to rugby union, going on to captain his district club and play Shute Shield rugby for Parramatta. He later returned to rugby league with St George, and at 21 his Dutch roots called: he came to the Netherlands and played two seasons for Den Haag, followed by a contract in the UK. He then headed back to Australia, where he began his studies in business and media, and where his coaching career took off.
Daniel brings more than a decade of rugby coaching experience to AAC. In his native Australia, he coached at several Sydney clubs, most notably Warringah Rugby Club, where he was part of the coaching staff that won the 1st Grade Premiership in 2017 and reached the Grand Final again in 2018. His coaching journey also took him to Singapore, where he was head coach of Bedok Kings Rugby and served as defence coach for the Singapore national team, reaching the Asia Division 1 final.
In 2024 he moved back to the Netherlands, where he spent two seasons as head coach of the Oisterwijk Oysters before joining AAC this summer. Becoming head coach in the capital of the Netherlands ticks a big box for Daniel; he’s excited to be part of AAC and to add value to the club. Alongside rugby, Daniel has built a career in business development and commercial growth, and currently works as an independent growth specialist for companies across sports, marketing, and tech.
Interview
What was your first impression of Dutch rugby and of AAC?
A lot of Dutch rugby clubs need some work, but especially over the past two years the competition has grown and it’s getting tougher. I’ve always kept my eye on it, and it’s getting better and better, there are a lot more imports coming in. With that comes a responsibility for clubs to become more professional in their approach, and clubs are acknowledging that. Castricum and Breda see it, the Oysters made changes, Den Haag are doing great, and AAC are not far off. But we need to make some changes to get up there.
How would you describe your coaching style in three words?
Player-led, direct and determined.
What’s the biggest difference between training culture in Australia and here, in terms of rugby?
Rugby is everything in Australia, as a rugby player you give it your all. For example, I didn’t go to my sister’s wedding because of rugby. Don’t get me wrong, I went to the party afterwards! You would never go away for the weekend, because you’d be scared of losing your spot. Shute Shield players don’t get paid much, but it’s still three training sessions a week. The main difference, I’d say, is the depth of the teams, the competitiveness and the training sessions, and that all comes from depth, and from what the game actually means to you.
What are your ambitions with the team this season, and where do you want the club to be in a few years?
I wouldn’t be a rugby coach if I wasn’t here to win the competition. That’s what we’re going out to do, and it’s my job to upskill the boys. What I do see is that there have been a lot of injuries over the years, and that hasn’t helped, that’s been difficult for AAC. Changing that would be a real win, and if we can position ourselves in the top half by Christmas, we can have a good run. That’s what I’m setting us up to do.
Is there a coach or athlete who has inspired you in your own career?
Not so much an athlete, there are guys I loved to play against and guys I love to watch, but definitely coaches. Darren Coleman and John Muggleton were the two biggest for me. What we did together as a coaching group was phenomenal.
What can players expect when they train under you? What should they prepare for?
Hard work. We’ve already sat down and agreed on four principles for why we want to be the best in this competition, which is great, because it gives me and the other coaches the opportunity to hold people to account on those principles. It can only happen if we put in the time and the effort. The four principles stay within these four walls, but those who come and watch us will see the difference. I’m really excited. It will take a lot of work, but if we stick to it, we can make it happen.
How will the entire club notice your input and influence as head coach?
The difference between a good head coach and a bad one is having an overview of the whole club. It’s about making sure I’m down at the under-6s, saying hello, putting in a session now and then, being around the juniors, connecting with everyone. One of the differences I really made at Oisterwijk was closing the gap between the under-18s and the seniors: the Colts trained with us, the 2nd and 3rd teams and the girls trained with us. That’s what I plan to do at AAC, creating that family unity is really important to me. I’m not someone who’s only interested in the first team, I’m interested in the whole club, and I want to create that feeling.
What do you miss most from Australia?
The weather!
And what does the Netherlands have that Australia doesn’t?
The proximity to everywhere, that’s the beauty of this country. Within a couple of hours you can be in Germany; in Australia it sometimes takes an hour just to get out of your driveway. I also like the culture and the directness of the Dutch.
If you could bring one thing from Australian sports culture to AAC, what would it be?
Competitiveness, and what the sport means to people.
Which songs are in your Spotify top 3?
Black Tears, Neon Phantom, Tell Me.
What was the last concert you went to?
U2 in Singapore.
What would you like to say to members who haven’t met you yet?
I’m really excited about the challenge. I believe we’re all here for the same cause, and I just want to make us proud. To respect the AAC jersey, and be proud to be members.
Where do we find you when you’re not coaching?
With my girlfriend, probably riding a bike or at a nice terrace with a good glass of wine and something nice to eat. Or playing golf.
Rapid-fire round ⚡
- Beach or mountains? Beach
- Coffee or tea? Coffee
- Summer or winter? Summer
- Cat or dog? Dog
- Beer or wine? Wine
- Spiders or snakes? Run!!!
- Karaoke or pub quiz? Karaoke… because I’m such a great singer 😊
- Coaching in the rain or in 40 degrees? 40 degrees
- Early morning training or evening session? Early morning training
- Text message or phone call? Phone call
Interviewed by Yvonne Craig, 8 July 2026.
Daniel’s appointment was announced in May: Daniel Geurs appointed Men’s 1XV Head Coach for 2026/27. He has also proposed the club’s season opening on 30 August.
First published in the July 2026 edition of the Try, AAC’s club newsletter.