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Rob Penney

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Rob Penney
Date of birth (1964-04-27) 27 April 1964 (age 60)
Place of birthNew Zealand
Rugby union career
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1985-1994 Canterbury ()
1996-1997 Marlborough Rugby Union ()
Coaching career
Years Team
2005 Crusaders (assistant coach)
2006–2011 Canterbury (head coach)
2011–2012 New Zealand U20 (head coach)
2012–2014 Munster (head coach)
2014–2019 Shining Arcs (head coach)
2020–2021 Waratahs (head coach)
2024- Crusaders (head coach)

Robin Hugh Penney (born 27 April 1964) is New Zealand rugby union coach and former representative player. Generally known as Rob Penney he played in the positions of Flanker or No.8 throughout his career, most notably for Canterbury. He has served in various coaching roles since 2005. He started as the Head Coach of the Crusaders in the 2024 season.

Playing career

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Penney played over 100 games for Canterbury between 1985 and 1994 in what was then the First division, the highest level of provincial rugby in New Zealand. Penney also played in an All Black trial in 1992. He later played for Marlborough in lower division rugby in 1996 and 1997.[1]

He played for the Burnside club in Christchurch and Awatere in Marlborough.

Coaching career

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Canterbury and New Zealand

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Penney coached Canterbury rugby in New Zealand from 2006 to 2011, and led them to win four ITM Cups in a row from 2008 to 2011.[2] He also coached the New Zealand under-20 rugby union team at the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship in which New Zealand were beaten 16–22 by the hosts, South Africa, in the final.[3][4]

Munster

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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 Harlequin 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] Penney won the 2013–14 Pro 12 Coach of the Season Award in May 2014.[18]

Shining Arcs

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The Japanese Top League team NTT Communications Shining Arcs announced Penney as their new head coach for the next season on 11 April 2014.[19]

New South Wales Waratahs

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Penney joined Australian Super Rugby side Waratahs on a three-year contract in October 2019.[20][21] On 28 March 2021, the Waratahs sacked Penney as head coach after a struggling 0–5 start to the 2021 Super Rugby AU season. He was replaced by Jason Gilmore and Chris Whitaker as interim coaches for the rest of the season.[22]

Crusaders

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On 6 June 2023 Penney was appointed as the head coach of the Crusaders, taking over from Scott Robertson who took up the All Blacks coaching role. Penney's assistants are Matt Todd and Tamati Ellison.[23] Penney's Crusaders finished the 2024 season having won four and lost 10 matches. In July 2024 it was confirmed Penney would fulfil his two-year contract and coach the team for their 2025 season.

References

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  1. ^ https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/robin-h-penney [bare URL]
  2. ^ "Fantastic four NPC titles for Canterbury". New Zealand: Stuff. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  3. ^ "Adams insists new Munster boss Penney has quality to answer supporters' prayers". Irish Independent. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  4. ^ "Munster appoint Penney as new boss". ESPNscrum. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  5. ^ "Penney's man for Munster". Evening Herald. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  6. ^ "Munster appoint Rob Penney as head coach". Limerick Leader. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  7. ^ "Canterbury's Rob Penney named new Munster coach". BBC Sport. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 May 2012. Retrieved 3 May 2012.
  8. ^ "Penney delighted to make winning start". Irish Independent. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  9. ^ "Munster take first big steps for Penney". Irish Examiner. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  10. ^ "Gritty Munster off to winning start". Limerick Leader. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.
  11. ^ "End Game Earns Bonus". munsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  12. ^ "Munster Show Their Gritty Side". munsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  13. ^ "Munster Lose After Epic Battle". munsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 31 March 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  14. ^ "Alone They Stand". munsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 12 April 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  15. ^ "Munster Lose A Game of Two Halves". munsterrugby.ie. Archived from the original on 3 May 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
  16. ^ "O'Connell shocked and disappointed by Penney's departure". Irish Examiner. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  17. ^ "Rob Penney and Simon Mannix to leave Munster at the end of the season". Irish Independent. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  18. ^ "PRO12 Awards For Penney & Hanrahan". munsterrugby.ie. 11 May 2014. Archived from the original on 26 February 2017. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
  19. ^ "NTT Shining Arcs announces new staff and slogan for 2014". Top League (in Japanese). 11 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  20. ^ "Rob Penney appointed NSW Waratahs Head Coach". NSW Waratahs. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  21. ^ "New Waratahs coach Penney reveals roster wishlist". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 2 October 2019.
  22. ^ "Struggling NSW Waratahs sack Kiwi coach Rob Penney". New Zealand: Stuff. 2 October 2019. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  23. ^ "Rob Penney is new Crusaders coach".
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