John Mitchell (rugby player)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

John Eric Paul Mitchell, was born on 23 March 1964 in Hawera, New Zealand. A noted rugby union player and coach for the New Zealand All Blacks, Mitchell's rugby career blossomed with the club side Fraser-Tech after he moved from King Country in 1984 and was soon elected Waikato Colts captain. As a pupil at New Plymouth's Francis Douglas Memorial College he made the first XV and he was a member of the NZ secondary schools basketball team from 1981-83. He represented NZ Juniors in basketball in 1982-83, but then decided to concentrate on rugby. He made his Waikato senior debut in 1985 and played at number eight, blindside flanker and lock before he became firmly established at number eight. Equal top scorer in first division rugby in 1989-90, he thus scored more tries over these seasons than any other NZ first division player.

Mitchell was given the Waikato captaincy in 1989. In 1990, because of a broken leg, he could only play half the games. He was reappointed captain in 1991 and led magnificently from that time on until his retirement just prior to the start of the 1995 season. He captained the side a record 86 times. Overall he played 134 games for Waikato and scored 67 tries.

In the off season, Mitchell played club rugby in France and Ireland. Coached in England, including a stint as England's assistant coach. Appointed coach of the Chiefs' Super 12 side for 2001, and on 3rd October 2001 was appointed as All Black coach through to the 2003 World Cup.

The All Blacks disappointing results in the 2003 World Cup played a part in Mitchell not regaining the All Blacks coaching position when the NZRFU called for candidates for the position. Mitchell has since taken up the position of the Waikato NPC coach, which he held for the 2004 season, and in mid 2005 was successful in taking up the role of coach for the Australian expansion side, The Western Force, for the 2006 Super 14 competition.