Top 10 Famous Rugby Coaches of all Time

A Rugby match in progress. By Maree Reveley. Wikimedia

Top 10 Famous Rugby Coaches of all Time

Rugby union, also known as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that began in the first half of the nineteenth century at Rugby School. It is one of the two rugby football codes and is based on running with the ball in hand. A game is most commonly played between two teams of 15 players each, using an oval-shaped ball on a rectangular field known as a pitch. Both ends of the field have H-shaped goalposts. Famous rugby coaches have made this game known and played it all over the world. This article will look at famous Rugby coaches throughout history, as is our custom as Discover walks. Let us  take a look

1. Warren Gatland

Warren Gatland. Picture By Senedd Cymru. Wikimedia

He is a former New Zealand Rugby player and coach who is now the Chiefs Super Rugby team’s Director of Rugby. From 2007 to 2019, he led Wales to three Six Nations titles, all of which were Grand Slams.

He also led them to the semi-finals of the 2011 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. He also served as a coach for the British and Irish Lions. Gatland began his coaching career as a player/coach for Taupiri in 1989, and following the All Blacks’ 1989 tour, he stayed in Ireland to play/coach for Galwegians RFC, leading them to promotion to the All-Ireland League Division 2.

Gatland broke the Waikato record for most games played near the end of the 1994 season. His track record of success with Wales and New Zealand makes him an exceptional Rugby coach.

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2. Carwyn James

The Welsh rugby union player and coach is 53 years old. He earned two Welsh caps but is best known for his coaching achievements with Llanelli, the 1971 British Lions, and the Barbarians, all of whom he defeated the All Blacks.

He also served in the navy and may have done spying work, though he later became a pacifist. James rose to prominence as a coach with Llanelli.

James was the coach of the British and Irish Lions team that won a series against the All Blacks in New Zealand in 1971.
From 1977 to 1980, he coached at Rugby Rovigo in Italy, where he won a championship.

James’ coaching style was said to consist of quiet words with players and half-suggestions rather than direct instructions. 

3. Jack Rowell

James, 53, was a Welsh rugby union player and coach. He earned two Welsh caps but is best known for his coaching achievements with Llanelli, the 1971 British Lions, and the Barbarians, all of whom he defeated the All Blacks.

He also served in the navy and may have done spying work, though he later became a pacifist. James rose to prominence as a coach with Llanelli.

He was the coach of the British and Irish Lions team that won a series against the All Blacks in New Zealand in 1971.

James was said to prefer quiet words with his players and half-suggestions over orders. He was a firm believer in attacking rugby. Believing that if a team had the ball, it should be able to attack regardless of position on the field.

4. Joe Schmidt

Joe Schmidt coaching the Irish rugby union team. By Stephen McCarthy Wikimedia

Joe Schmidt is a standout figure in rugby history. He began his coaching career in New Zealand schools before leaving to coach Bay of Plenty from 2003 to 2004. On 15 August 2004, he won the Ranfurly Shield with the Steamers, defeating Auckland.

The Steamers had one successful title defense before falling to Canterbury. Schmidt worked as an assistant coach for the Blues from 2004 to 2007 when they were eliminated in the semi-finals in his final year.

He then went on to coach Clermont Auvergne, Leinster, the Irish national team, and the New Zealand national team. Joe Schmidt was appointed World Rugby’s director of rugby and high performance in October 2020, a newly created position with responsibility for issues relating to rugby and high performance.

5. Eddie Jones

Eddie Jones. Picture By Belinda Lester Wikimedia

Eddie Jones, 62, is an Australian rugby union coach and former player who is currently the England national team’s head coach. He previously coached Australia from 2001 to 2005, leading the team to the Rugby World Cup Final in 2003.

Jones left his career as a teacher and school principal in 1994 to coach his former club Randwick. He went on to coach the ACT Brumbies in Australia, the Post Wallabies in South Africa, and now the England Lions.

Jones led England to their first World Cup final since 2007 when they defeated reigning world champions New Zealand 19-7 in the 2019 Rugby World Cup semi-finals. He has won every league competition with the other teams he has coached. He is still regarded as a legendary professional rugby coach in the rugby world.

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6. Danie Craven

At the age of 21, he played his first Test match as a scrum-half against Wales in St Helens, Swansea, in December 1931. He went on to win 16 caps as a center, fly-half, No.8, and full-back.

His appointment as Springboks coach from 1949 to 1956 marked one of the most successful periods in South African rugby history. He began his coaching career with a bang.

This is by winning ten consecutive games, including a 4-0 thrashing of New Zealand during their 1949 tour to South Africa. From 1949 to 1952, the Springboks were unbeaten under his leadership.

His string of banging several wins in a row has earned him fame and the prolific to his career. Viva Craven!

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7. Graham Henry

Graham Henry. Picture By Luton Anderson Wikimedia

After being passed over for the All Blacks job in 1998, Auckland boss Henry moved to Wales. He became a celebrity figure on these shores, being dubbed ‘The Great Redeemer.’ Wales won 11 straight Tests under him.

His debut as the first Lions coach from outside the home nations against Australia in 2001 did not go as planned, as Wales lost the series 2-1. After being appointed New Zealand coach following the 2003 World Cup, he led the All Blacks to a 3-0 whitewash of the 2005 Lions and, despite losing to France in the 2007 World Cup quarter-final, lifted the trophy for the first time in years. At the helm of New Zealand, he had an incredible 88 wins from 103 Tests.

8. Steve Hansen

After playing for the provincial side 21 times in the center, he began his coaching career with Canterbury in 1996. Before joining Graham Henry in Wales, he worked as an assistant to Robbie Deans at the Crusaders.

In 2002, he took over as head coach and oversaw an 11-game losing streak in Tests. Wales produced a stirring performance against the All Blacks in the 2003 World Cup before losing to champions England in the last eight.

In 2004, he joined Henry’s All Blacks and helped plot a golden era for New Zealand rugby. Culminating in their 2011 World Cup victory, which they will defend this autumn with him at the helm.

9. John Hart

From 1982 to 1985, he led Auckland to three NPC titles, and when they won the Ranfurly Shield from Canterbury in 1985, they set a 61-match unbeaten streak.

Was Lochore’s assistant when New Zealand won the World Cup in 1987 but was passed over for the 1991 squad. Laurie Mains was in charge for the 1995 World Cup, but after resigning, Hart led the All Blacks to their first-ever series win in 1996 in South Africa, as well as three Tri-Nations titles.

Hart resigned after England’s shock semi-final loss to France in 1999. He won 31 of 41 Tests and drew one.

10. Sir Clive Woodward

Sir Clive Ronald Woodward, English former rugby union player, and coach.By David Sedlecký Wikimedia

Played in the center for England 21 times and won two caps on two Lions tours (1980 and 1983).

Coached London Irish and Bath under Andy Robinson before taking over the Red Rose when Jack Rowell retired as England coach in 1997.

After failing to win the World Cup in 1999, he led England to the 2003 Grand Slam and then to the ultimate prize by defeating Australia in the 2003 World Cup final. Coached the 2005 Lions, who lost the Test series in New Zealand 3-0.

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