The Namibian-born Scot is rapidly rising up the coaching ranks and has been invited into England camp for this summer's tour of Argentina and the USA
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By ALEX BYWATER
Published: 21:00 EDT, 14 May 2025 | Updated: 21:00 EDT, 14 May 2025
Byron McGuigan was born in Namibia and raised in South Africa. He played club rugby in New Zealand, Glasgow, Exeter and Manchester and won 10 caps for Scotland.
But after a nomadic journey through life as well as professional sport, the former wing has now found a home with Sale and England as one of the brightest defence coaches in the game.
'I have a great fondness for England,' one of the newest additions to Steve Borthwick's national setup told Mail Sport. 'It's the place I want to be. I want to coach Sale with a long-term dream of coaching England. I really believe in the future of English rugby.'
McGuigan has never lost his African accent. But developing the next generation of talent in England is one of his three main loves. The others are his family and Manchester United.
Such is the 35-year-old's devotion to the Red Devils that he sports a United tattoo on his leg and is a season-ticket holder at Old Trafford, 20 minutes' drive from the Salford Community Stadium that Sale call home.
'Growing up in Cape Town, I first wanted to be a United footballer. I only started playing rugby when I was 14,' he said. 'I was a striker. I loved David Beckham, Eric Cantona, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs – the whole Class of 92. In my room, I used to have United posters and even United bed covers.
Byron McGuigan has been on a nomadic journey through life as well as professional sport, and the former wing has now found a home with Sale and England
McGuigan is one of the newest additions to Steve Borthwick’s England setup
Developing the next generation of talent in England is one of his three main loves. The others are his family and Manchester United
'When I came to Manchester, I couldn't wait. I got United season tickets straight away. I go as often as I can. No one knows me. It makes me a better coach. United are struggling this season. But I sit there and listen to the fans. They are so passionate. They want effort and hard work. I hammer that home to the Sale players.'
Sale's training ground at Carrington is just a stone's throw from United's base around the corner. 'I often see the United players in their fancy cars,' McGuigan said. 'It's funny how they tint their windows out. I can't see who they are but if I overtake, I then look back and go 'Oh that was Harry Maguire… that was Luke Shaw!'
'United always find a way to win trophies. I think they'll win the Europa League. If they win that and survive relegation, it sounds like a terrible season.
'But if they have a trophy and qualify for the Champions League, then I think they've had a more successful campaign than Arsenal. They're winning nothing! But I'm a biased United fan, so I would say that!'
McGuigan has a fascinating story to tell. This summer, he will be a defence coach on England's summer tour of Argentina and the USA. He only took on the same role with Sale in November.
The former wing's progress since retiring as a player has been as swift as it has been impressive. England boss Borthwick and Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson are both big fans. In recent years, the man known as 'the horse' has held part-time coaching jobs at grassroots clubs in the north west: Sandbach, Bowden and Rossendale.
Now, international rugby beckons. McGuigan and Bath's Lee Blackett have both been added to England's summer coaching ticket in recognition of their promise.
'I've spent the greatest years of my life in England. I couldn't say yes quickly enough when the opportunity to coach them came,' McGuigan added. 'Things have happened fast, but I feel ready. I'd had a couple of conversations with Steve because I always want to learn. He likes some of the stuff we've been doing at Sale.
McGuigan has a fascinating story to tell, and this summer he will be a defence coach on England’s summer tour of Argentina and the USA
England boss Borthwick and Sale director of rugby Alex Sanderson are both big fans of him
McGuigan and Bath’s Lee Blackett have both been added to England’s summer coaching ticket in recognition of their promise
'I was hugely excited when Steve gave me the call. I felt really honoured and hugely proud. I've had 12 years in England if you include my time with Exeter and Sale.
'I started coaching when I was still playing, so I've been doing it for nine years really. I wasn't the fastest winger, so I had to be the fastest thinker. I would always try to be a page ahead.
'I knew I could add to the Sale coaching environment. Alex offered me a playing contract for another year with the option to coach after that.
'I spoke to my family and they said to do one more year as a player. It was more money than just coaching. But I told Alex I didn't want to play. What gets me out of bed now is making young players better. I wasn't too bothered about the money. That's why I knew it was the right time to retire and coach full time.'
McGuigan made more than a century of appearances for Sale. He is a hugely popular figure at the Premiership title hopefuls and the last off the training pitch.
He is the target for relentless mickey taking ahead of this interview given it is the first time he has discussed his international summons.
As McGuigan starts to talk, the shouts go up from Sale's playing group. 'Have you got your England top for the pictures?' 'Make sure you remind him he's still with Sale!'
McGuigan smiles. His African upbringing gave him a hard edge which suits the northern grit of Sale's players to a tee. The Sharks don't mess about in training.
His African upbringing gave him a hard edge which suits the northern grit of Sale’s players to a tee
McGuigan doesn't mess about in training and insists on sessions running at full intensity
On the day Mail Sport visits, a young player is shocked by the demands of the session
On the day Mail Sport visits, a young player is shocked by the demands of the session. The response from one of the coaches is clear.
'What do you expect? We're not here to smoke f***ing Cubans!' At Sale, it is all about hard work and commitment to the cause.
It could yet see them lift silverware. Sanderson's men are fourth in the Premiership with two rounds to go, holding on to the last of the play-off spots.
Sale's home clash with third-placed Bristol on Friday night is going to be a pivotal tie, with both looking to hold off the charge of Saracens and Gloucester.
'You've got to get the players to love defence. It's the toughest part of the game,' McGuigan said. 'You need to get guys excited about putting their body on the line.
'Mentality is 80 per cent of it. You can have a system, but if you don't have the desire to get off the line and f***ing bang somebody, then actually technique goes out the window.
'I don't think there's one road that leads to Rome with defence but for me, a line speed defence works best for this group of Sale players. I've made a few changes here and we've been good off the back of that.'
In McGuigan's own words, his initial upbringing was in a 'poor area'. His parents Richard Grace and Carol McGuigan moved to Cape Town and worked hard, in human resources and for a shipping company respectively, to then provide a 'middle-class' life for their son.
McGuigan won 10 caps on the wing for Scotland between 2017 and 2020, scoring three tries
He spent the final seven years of his playing career at Sale, from 2016 to 2023
McGuigan is now on the sidelines, training up the likes of England hooker Luke Cowan-Dickie
McGuigan's parents never married in the 24 years they spent together, so he took his Scottish mother's name and wore a blue shirt at international level as a result.
Tragically, McGuigan's father passed away when he was just 18.
'In my later teenage years, I had this natural work ethic and desire to compete and that came from my parents,' he said. 'At that time, I wanted to play rugby for Scotland so bad.
'I would pray for it at night. Every time I was in aftercare at school because my parents were still working, I'd be playing sport. I wanted to work harder than everybody else. Success comes with hard work. But I'm a big believer in visualising and believing things into existence.
'In November, I went to watch England against South Africa. I was sat in the stands and I remember as the teams ran out, I took in the whole stadium and I thought to myself 'This is where I want to be'. I'm over the moon that's happened and that soon I'll be a part of it.
'My parents started from bare bones. They got to a position where they achieved great things they can be really proud of. What they did has really shaped me. I aspire to do the same. Sometimes I question where I get my competitive edge from. The only thing I can think of is how much time my parents put in to give us a nice life.'
McGuigan's late father would certainly be proud of his son's achievements. And despite her Scottish heritage, his mother is delighted he will coach England.
McGuigan now has a family of his own and calls the outskirts of Manchester home. He has a busy few months ahead with a title tilt with Sale followed by the England tour.
Sale are right in the mix for the play-offs with just two rounds remaining
Sale have only once lifted the Premiership title, back in 2006 when Jason Robinson, Mark Cueto and Sebastien Chabal were among their stars
McGuigan outlined his ambition to move into the England coaching setup permanently
'We want to win the Premiership. That's the reality,' he said. 'But this competition is so tight. We're fighting hard for the top four. On our day, we really believe we can beat anyone. The end goal for us has to be the trophy.
'I was non-stop as a player. I would train for most of the day and on my days off, I'd go to a UFC gym and do sparring and wrestling. I'd also play padel.
'When you're sparring, it becomes like a chess match. You need the ability to predict your opponent's next move. I was pretty good at that. It's the same with defence coaching.
'With everything in life, I always try and be a step ahead. I love it at Sale, but my ultimate goal is to be with England permanently.'