Fraternal respect among New Zealand's Sky Super Rugby Aotearoa clubs was behind the late call to solve the Blues' pre-season problem with a game of three halves in Hamilton on Saturday.
Stuff Sports
9 February, 2021, 5:40 pm
Neil Barnes has been appointed as the head coach for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls for the next two years. (file photo).
A former player and assistant coach has been appointed as head coach for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls rugby team.
Neil Barnes, who was the team’s assistant coach in 2020, currently coaches at the Gallagher Chiefs and played lock for the region in 1986.
He replaces Taranaki Bulls head coach Willie Rickards, who finished his three-year contract at the end of 2020.
In a press statement Barnes, who has signed a two-year deal with the union, said he was grateful for the opportunity to return to coach his home province.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have secured Neil Barnes, such a high-quality coach, to lead the Taranaki Bulls over the next two years. Neil will add a lot of experience and old schoolwork ethic to the Head Coach role, and he will lead Taranaki Rugby forward on and off the field. I am extremely excited about the future of rugby here in Taranaki.”
Taranaki Rugby Chairman Andrew Thompson believes the coaching experiences Neil has enjoyed over the last 10 years is impressive.
“Neil is hugely passionate about Taranaki Rugby and it was a big draw to applying for the role. To have someone with his international and Super Rugby experience at the helm of our Taranaki Bulls team is exciting for all involved.”
“I am a Taranaki person at heart, born and bred, love my province and the people in it deep down. “It shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who knows me, that I am genuinely excited about returning home and taking on the head coach role.” Barnes, who has eight years international coaching experience with Fiji and Canada, including three World Cup campaigns, said he felt fortunate to be involved with the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls team last season. “We had our ups and downs, but we’ve got a good group of young men there who I believe will get better.”
Bay of Plenty s Clayton McMillan to extend stay with Chiefs coaching team
12 Jan, 2021 08:13 PM
3 minutes to read
Clayton McMillan has signed on as an assistant coach with the Chiefs for 2022 and 2023. Photo / File
Clayton McMillan has signed on as an assistant coach with the Chiefs for 2022 and 2023. Photo / File
Rotorua Daily Post
The Chiefs have announced interim head coach Clayton McMillan has signed on as an assistant coach for 2022 and 2023.
Bay of Plenty s McMillan was appointed interim head coach for this year s Super Rugby campaign while Warren Gatland leads the British and Irish Lions tour of South Africa.
McMillan said he was grateful for the opportunity to continue his coaching journey with the Chiefs.