John Ackland (rugby league)

John Ackland
Ackland coaching Samoa in 2008
Personal information
Full name Richard John Ackland
Born 2 August 1958 (1958-08-02) (age 53)
Auckland, New Zealand
Playing information
Position Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
19?? Mount Albert Lions
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
19?? Auckland
1983 New Zealand 1 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2008 Samoa 3 2 0 1 67
Source: RLP

Richard John Ackland (born 2 August 1958) is a rugby league coach and scout who currently works for the New Zealand Warriors. He is a former player and represented New Zealand in 1983. His uncle, Ron, also played for New Zealand.[1]

Contents

Playing career

Ackland played rugby league in New Zealand in the 1980s as a forward. In 1981 he won the Lipscombe Cup while playing in the Auckland Rugby League competition for Mt Albert. He also was named man of the match in the 1981 Fox Memorial grand final, after scoring a try.[2] In 1983 he won the Bert Humphries Memorial for best forward in the competition.

Representative career

In 1983 he made his one and only appearance for the New Zealand Kiwis, coming off the bench against Papua New Guinea. Ackland also represented Auckland and played in the 1983 draw against Hull.[3]

Cricket career

Ackland also played first-class cricket for Auckland, as a slow left-arm orthodox bowler. From six appearances he took 10 wickets at 30.50.[4]

Coaching career

1990s

Ackland has had a long association with the Mt Albert Lions and in 1995 coached the Auckland Warriors under 16s and the Colts side in the Lion Red Cup.[5] In 1996 he was the clubs Development officer and in 1997 he was the under 19 coach. He coached Mt Albert to the 2002 Bartercard Cup grand final victory.[6]

Bulldogs Scout

Ackland worked as a New Zealand based scout for the Australian rugby league club the Canterbury Bulldogs where he is credited as bringing Sonny Bill Williams, Roy Asotasi and Hutch Maiava to the club [7]

Warriors coach

In 2006 he was appointed the Assistant Coach for the New Zealand Warriors. In 2010 he was switched with Tony Iro and Ackland became the Warrior's Toyota Cup coach.[8] The team won the grand final in 2010, the clubs first grand final victory and also in 2011

Representative coaching

He was the Samoan head coach and took them to the 2008 World Cup.[9][10]

References

  1. ^ Chris Rattue. "48 hours: Sonny Bill - the future and a reminder of league's follies". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/48-hours-weekend-sport-review/news/article.cfm?c_id=805&objectid=10115130. Retrieved 10 September 2011. 
  2. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.258.
  3. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.260.
  4. ^ "Richard Ackland". Cricinfo. http://www.espncricinfo.com/newzealand/content/player/36210.html. 
  5. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.311.
  6. ^ Coffey, John and Bernie Wood Auckland, 100 years of rugby league, 1909-2009, 2009. ISBN 978-1-86969-366-4, p.333.
  7. ^ Michael Brown (29 January 2006). "League: Special agent behind enemy lines". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/4/story.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10365830. Retrieved 10 September 2011. 
  8. ^ Steve Deane (25 September 2009). "NRL: Bell wins leading role at Warriors". The New Zealand Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10599491&ref=rss. Retrieved 10 September 2011. 
  9. ^ "Samoa name World Cup Squad". League Unlimited. 2008-08-05. http://www.leagueunlimited.com/article.php?newsid=16750. Retrieved 2008-08-06. 
  10. ^ "Samoa, Tonga and Fiji name squads". BBC. 2008-10-08. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7658506.stm. Retrieved 2008-10-09.