Rob Penney
Rob Penney (born 27 April 1964) is a former New Zealand rugby union player and current head coach at Irish province Munster.[1]
Coaching career
Canterbury and New Zealand
Penney is a former head coach of Canterbury rugby in New Zealand from 2006 to 2011, and led them to win four ITM Cup's in a row.[2] He is also the former coach of the New Zealand under-20 rugby union team, a position he left after the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.[3][4]
Munster
On 3 May 2012, it was announced that Penney would be the new Munster new head coach, signing a two-year contract. He started in the role in July 2012 with Anthony Foley remaining on as forwards coach.[5] On appointing Penney, Munster rugby CEO Garrett Fitzgerald said; "We conducted a thorough search to find a replacement for Tony McGahan and were delighted with the calibre of the candidates".[6][7]
Penney took charge of his first competitive game as Munster coach on 1 September 2012, in a Rabo Direct Pro 12 match against Edinburgh Rugby at Murrayfield.[8] Despite a slow start, Munster won the game 23–18, to get his coaching career with Munster off to a winning start.[9][10] Penney's Munster side had a surprise loss in the 2012-13 Heineken Cup on 13 October 2012, when they threw away an early lead against Racing Métro 92 and lost the game 22–17, but crucially secured a losing bonus point. Munster got their campaign back on track against Edinburgh Rugby the next week with a bonus point victory, winning 33–0 on the day and leaving themselves in a strong position to get out of the group stages.[11] A victory and a loss followed in Munster's next two Heineken Cup matches, both against Saracens.[12][13] Munster secured qualification for the quarter-finals in their last match against Racing Métro 92, beating them 29–6 to arrange a quarter-final against Harlequins F.C.. Munster, despite being massive underdogs, beat Harlequins 18–12 to reach the semi-final.[14] Munster lost the semi-final 16–10 to ASM Clermont Auvergne.[15]
In February 2014, Penney announced that he would be leaving Munster at the end of the 2013-14 season having turned down the option of a third year in charge.[16][17]
References
- ↑ "Penney appointed Munster head coach". Irish Examiner. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Fantastic four NPC titles for Canterbury". Stuff.co.nz. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Adams insists new Munster boss Penney has quality to answer supporters' prayers". Irish Independent. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Munster appoint Penney as new boss". ESPN Scrum. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Penney's man for Munster". Evening Herald. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Munster appoint Rob Penney as head coach". Limerick Leader. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Canterbury's Rob Penney named new Munster coach". BBC Sport. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
- ↑ "Penney delighted to make winning start". Irish Independent. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ↑ "Munster take first big steps for Penney". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ↑ "Gritty Munster off to winning start". Limerick Leader. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
- ↑ "End Game Earns Bonus". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ↑ "Munster Show Their Gritty Side". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ↑ "Munster Lose After Epic Battle". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ↑ "Alone They Stand". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ↑ "Munster Lose A Game of Two Halves". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- ↑ "O'Connell shocked and disappointed by Penney's departure". Irish Examiner. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
- ↑ "Rob Penney and Simon Mannix to leave Munster at the end of the season". Irish Independent. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
External links
| Preceded by Tony McGahan |
Munster Rugby coach 2012–present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
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