Friend was selected in the Australia Schoolboys rugby team for 1986–87 before going on to play provincial rugby for the ACT Kookaburras.[1] His position of choice was full-back.[5]
In the summer of 2005, Friend joined English Premiership team Harlequins as head coach.[10][11] Following the conclusion of the 2007-08 season, he signed a three-year contract with the Canberra-based Brumbies side.[3]
He took over from Laurie Fisher as head coach at the Super Rugby club.[12] After completing two full seasons in charge, Friend has his contract terminated in March 2011 following a loss to the Melbourne Rebels and rumours of player discontent.[2] He was the third coach to either be fired or not have their contract renewed by the ACT Brumbies board. After helping out as a trainer for various Canberra high school teams, Friend went to Japan in 2012 and became the head coach at Canon Eagles for two seasons.[1] He was head coach of Suntory Sungoliath from 2014 to 2016.[4]
Friend was appointed as the head coach of Pro14 side Connacht on a three-year deal in May 2018.[13]
Following an accident in 2010 when his wife, Kerri Rawlings, came off her bike and suffered a serious brain injury, Andy Friend undertook a 5000 km journey from Cooktown to Canberra to raise awareness and money for Acquired Brain Injury. This was to support Brain Injury Australia and Outward Bound. The journey was successful, with his wife as part of the support crew, and was completed in late November 2011.[17]