Brian McClennan

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Brian McClennan is a Rugby League coach, currently head coach of the Leeds Rhinos and former coach of the New Zealand rugby league team.

The son of former St Helens coach Mike McClennan,^[1] born in Auckland McClellan played stand-off before becoming a coach.

He coached the Hibiscus Coast Raiders and Mt Albert Lions to championships in the Bartercard Cup, and was then assistant coach for the Kiwis under Daniel Anderson.^[2]

Despite this, his appointment in June 2005 as national coach of New Zealand was controversial, mainly because he had no top-level experience in Australia or Great Britain.^[3] However, he led New Zealand to an upset triumph in the 2005 Gillette Rugby League Tri-Nations series. New Zealand won the series final against Australia 24-0 at Elland Road, England. It was Australia's first defeat in a series or tournament since 1978.

In 2006 he coached the Auckland Lions to the minor premiership in the Bartercard Cup. However the Kiwis lost both mid-season tests to the Kangaroos and Lions. In 2007 he served as Director of Football to help the Auckland Lions prepare for their entrance into the NSWRL Premier League before leaving to concentrate on the Kiwis for the rest of the season.^[4] In mid 2007 reports emerged that he was looking for a job in the National Rugby League.^[5]

In July 2007 Leeds Rhinos announced that New Zealand national coach Brian McClennan would be joining the club as Head Coach on a two year contract from 1st December 2007. McClennan subsequently resigned as national coach, his position taken up by Gary Kemble in August 2007. In his first season as coach, the Rhino's won the 2008 World Club Challenge, beating Melbourne Storm 11-4 at Elland Road.^[6]

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