Coaches

04 Nov 2010

  • Sir John Kirwan - Head Coach

    Blues Coaching Debut: 2001
    Other Coaching Roles: Blues assistant coach 2011, taly head coach 2002-2005, Japan head coach 2007-2011, UK Barbarians head coach 2012
    Sir John Kirwan played 142 games for Auckland and 96 for the All Blacks (63 Test caps) before embarking on an international coaching career in Italy and more recently, Japan.

    He also had a brief stint with the Blues franchise in 2001 as Assistant Coach.

  • Mick Byrne - Assistant Coach

    Blues Coaching Debut: 2013
    Other Coaching Roles: Japan assistant coach, All Blacks skills coach 2005-2009, Saracens Skills coach 2004-2005, Consulting Coach Wallabies, Brumbies 1998-2001, Sydney Swans assistant coach 1992-1993, Many Rugby League consulting coach 1993-2001
    Mick Byrne’s coaching resume includes specialist skills coach with the All Blacks from 2005-2009 before heading offshore to coach with Kirwan in Japan.

    Prior to that Byrne, a former AFL player, had held similar roles with the Brumbies, Wallabies and Scotland as well as a consultant to the Springboks.

  • Grant Doorey - Assistant Coach

    Blues Coaching Debut: 2013
    Other Coaching Roles: Italy Assistant Coach 2003-2005, CSBJ Bourgoin Jallieu defence and skills coach, Japan assistant coach 2007-2011,
    Grant Doorey’s coaching resume includes assistant coach of two national teams – Japan (2007-2011) and Italy (2003-2005) as well as CSBJ Rugby Top 14 France.

    Before his coaching career, Doorey played rugby league in Australia and France

  • Sir Graham Henry - Technical Advisor

    Blues Coaching Debut: 1996
    Other Coaching Roles: Auckland head coach, Blues head coach, Wales head coach, British and Irish Lions head coach, All Blacks head coach
    Henry coached the All Blacks from 2004-2011, prior to that he was head coach of Wales and the British and Irish Lions respectively.

    Before heading offshore, Henry coached Auckland from 1992-1997 and the Blues from 1996-1998. He was coach of the Blues when they won the inaugural Super 12 competition in 1996 and took the title again in 1997. 

    Henry was named IRB International Coach of the Year in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010 and 2011.