Profile Overview

I am an IRB/NZRU Accredited Level 4 Professional Rugby Coach from Waikato, New Zealand. I am currently coaching (2015) both premier men’s and women’s teams and previously coached overseas in Japan, Canada, Italy, and National Coach for Trinidad and Tobago in 2007/8, Sri Lanka 2008/9 (HSBC 5 Nations Asian Cup Tournament) and Hungary 2009/10 (World Cup Prelimary Tournaments), since then I have concentrated on coaching in New Zealand.   In 2015 I am currently coaching a premier men’s team at Fraser Tech Rugby Club and premier womens at Waikato University Rugby club which currently has 4 New Zealand Black Fern representatives. I have also been selected to do the 2015 Chiefs Performance Course which has a World Rugby (IRB) Level 3 Qualification ensuring I can impart the most modern New Zealand rugby technical and tactical techniques.                                               

I have been involved in Head coaching roles with men’s and women’s teams 15’s and 7’s including Premier Club, Development, Regional and National teams and squads. I developed and managed regional/national academies and regional RDO’s, tutoring club and regional coaches and have been a development manager for both club and school unions. These roles have included all aspects of coaching, implementing programmes and strategies for player growth and working with all levels of schools, club, regional and national organisations.  

In 2008 I lead my club in New Zealand to winning the Waikato Premier Division Championship and was awarded 2008 Club Coach of the Year and regularly utilised as a specialist skills coach for the Waikato Rugby Union Representative Development Teams (2002-2012).   My coaching attributes relate directly to my qualifications and rugby knowledge, technical/tactical and specialist abilities, proven history, philosophy and personality being developed within the Waikato Rugby and New Zealand Rugby Unions High Performance Coaching Academies.

I have a proven extensive successful coaching career within New Zealand Senior Premier Men’s club and representative Under 20 High Performance age groups. Complimenting this has been a successful overseas experience at Club and National level and playing career domestically and overseas, representing Premier and Division one clubs and the Waikato Rugby Union as a coach and player.   As Head coach of successful Waikato Representative Teams I have achieved a standard of excellence measured against key performance indicators, enhancing the players and the Waikato Rugby Unions reputation since 2002, cumulating in being awarded
2005, Waikato Rugby Union Representative Coach of the Year  
2005, Waikato Rugby Union Representative Team of the Year
2005/6, NZRU/JRU Selected Representative Coach/Tutor Japan Rugby Programme
2007/8, Trinidad and Tobago National and Premier Club Coach
2008, New Zealand Premier Club Coach of the Year
2008/9, Sri Lanka National and Premier Club Coach 5 Nations/World Cup Tournament
2009/10, Hungary National and Premier Club Coach Tier 3/World Cup Tournament 2012,    New Zealand Harlequins Coach
2015, Waikato University Womens Coach  

I am a player centered coach and believe the coach is the main catalyst and motivator for the team displaying astute on and off field rugby knowledge, leadership, loyalty, pride, discipline, support and encouragement along with the ability to build strong relationships. As a coach I utilise new training techniques, update and study advances in sport science, provide a dynamic, variable and competitive learning environment but believe paramount to progression and development is reinforcing the basic fundamentals, principals and key factors in essential core skills and decision making abilities in non-pressure and reality pressure situations. Complimenting this is creating a unique team spirit, high achievable standards and a team culture based on visions, club and individual goals, pride and history, enjoyment and preparation.

I have also been responsible in implementing and facilitating new and innovative programmes, coordinating management roles and responsibilities, talent identification, creating accurate and informative game plans, individual, unit and team profiling, performance profiling and monitoring.  

Pivotal to this success was my ability to work with existing squads and/or selecting a balanced squad of players in combination with a focused, cohesive and productive management team with defined roles. This team use structured processes, implement comprehensive development plans, share team objectives, create successful team strategies, performance targets and outcomes all within a challenging environment creating an atmosphere open to player input, idea sharing, providing information and open communication for the betterment of the team.   Although a specialist backs coach, I coach all positions and excel in team generic and specific core skill development, attack and defence systems, kicking and position specific skills and technique development:   I have been coached and tutored by many of the premier coaches and specialists in New Zealand and have an astute understanding of game planning and team/opposition analysis, patterns of play, positional depth and requirements, seasonal planning, key factor analysis, camps, trial and selection processes, team bonding, player management and strategic training based around quality rather than quantity.

I provide players advice on general fitness, strength and conditioning programmes, pre and rehabilitation, nutrition and hydration requirements and psychological development.   Having been involved both in NZ and overseas senior schools, club high performance and international representative coaching environments where often a coach may be judge solely by results, I understand accountability and responsibility. I am also therefore aware of the pressures imposed by the modern game and thrive under them through strong administrative, communicative, personal management and problem solving abilities. Primary to my success have been my planning, realistic goal setting, methodology, consulting, time management, self-belief, sense of humour and holistic approach.   Many of my personal strengths include maintaining excellent health, being approachable and available at all times, being focused but flexible, having a positive enthusiasm, am imaginative, adaptable, disciplined and value and respect all cultures and traditions. I have strong personal pride, presentation, confidence and principles with a passion and a genuine interest in player development and input with a desire to succeed through the team’s successes for the individual, team, school, club and country.  

Further major strengths include my work ethic, code of conduct and my coaching philosophy that I trust will give you an insight into my coaching direction, values and standards. My system is based on educating and developing myself within and outside of the NZRU/IRB systems, so that the game of rugby can be delivered to my team in a knowledgeable and creative manner. Modern technology I have utilised has included various video analysis systems, laptops, copy white boards, projectors, microcellular link communication, DVD recorder with delay, camera and tripod filming normal, wide and end view of games and trainings.   Philosophy:  Input+ = Output+     To educate and develop myself in both traditional and innovative ways from a wide variety of sources, working professionally and closely with my management team, specialists and players creating a collective and positive optimal learning environment, so individual players and the team have the best opportunity to reach peak performance, success and ‘true’ potential on the field.   I was previously involved in senior amateur and professional teams in 15’s and 7’s as a player, player/coach and coach including having coached many high profile players, giving me the understanding of eligibility and availability, competition structures and changes in playing environments domestically and overseas. Prior to leaving NZ to coach overseas in 2005 I concentrated on development representative level rugby cumulating in my team winning the 2005 New Zealand Regions competition. Having this experience further gives me the understanding of the demands and effects on players and the many personal and team characteristics at all age groups. 

I am very aware of the ‘extras’ that make a team successful including the support strategies, use of specialists, statistical information, debriefing, individual and team goal setting, safety, medical, exchange opportunities, modern/changing laws, multi learning techniques, club history, knowledge sharing, supporters, financial and contractual obligations, seeking and encouraging strong working relationships with board members, sponsors, match officials, media and key stakeholders, constituent bodies, schools, and complying with policies and open communication with professional, overseas and domestic players.  

I believe modern rugby is a continuously evolving sport tactically, technically, physically and psychologically and although very much a hands on coach, I adapt my coaching methods relevant to the team’s needs and empower players and the team to success.

Coaching Qualifications

IRB/NZRU – Accredited Level 4 Coach   International Level  2005  
World Rugby/Chiefs Super 15 – Level 3 Coaching course (Current) 2015/6   IRB/NZRU – Massey University Bachelor of Sport Studies 2004 – 5   IRB/NZRU - Massey University Certificate in Rugby Coaching Practicum 2004 – 5  
IRB/NZRU - Levels 1 – 4 Coaching Certificate 2001 – 5   NZRU - High Performance Coaching Academy 2004 - 5   
NZRU - Game Planning Course 2004  
NZRU - Principles in Rugby Coaching Course 2002  
NZRU - Certificate in Practical Rugby Coaching 2001  
NZRU - RugbySmart 2002 – 2015    
Chiefs Super 15 – Advanced Level 3 Coaching Course 2011/2    
NZ Harlequins – Representative Coach 2012    
Waikato Rugby Union - Coaching Academy 2002 – 2005  
Waikato Rugby Union - Representative Coach of the Year 2005  
Waikato Rugby Union - Representative Team of the Year 2005  
Waikato Rugby Union - Representative Coach 2002 - 2008 Development Teams   Waikato Rugby Union - Associate Referee 2003 – 2012     Fraser Tech Rugby Club – Coach of Men’s Premier Club Champions 2008   Fraser Tech Rugby Club – Coach of the Year 2008   Fraser Tech Rugby Club – Specialist Skills Coach 2008-10                                                                                                                          
Waikato Institute of Leisure & Sport -National Certificate in Sport Coaching Level 1-4 2003- 05  

Sport and Recreation NZ - Coaching NZ Level 1 and 2   2002 - 2004 
Waikato Institute of Technology - Centre for Sport and Exercise Science
                                                       Sport Massage Certificate 2004                                                        Sport Nutrition Certificate 2004                         

NZ Qualification Authority - National Certificate in Sport Coaching Level 1-4 2002/3 
NZQualification Authority - Recreational Management Certificate 2002/3  
Life Care Consultants - Current First Aid Certificate 2001-2015

Coaching Experience