Rob Penney

Rob Penney (born 27 April 1964) is a former New Zealand rugby union player and current head coach at Japanese team NTT Shining Arcs.^[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] Penney won the 2013–14 Pro 12 Coach of the Season Award in May 2014.^[18]

Shining Arcs

The Japanese Top League team NTT Shining Arcs has announced him as new head coach for the next season in a communicate on 11 April. ^[19]

References

1. "NTT Shining Arcs announces new staff and slogan for 2014 - In Japanese". Top League Internet Site. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
2. "Fantastic four NPC titles for Canterbury". Stuff.co.nz. 5 September 2011. Archived from the original on 3 May 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". ESPN Scrum. 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 3 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. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
12. "Munster Show Their Gritty Side". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
13. "Munster Lose After Epic Battle". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
14. "Alone They Stand". munsterrugby.ie. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
15. "Munster Lose A Game of Two Halves". munsterrugby.ie. 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. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
19. "NTT Shining Arcs announces new staff and slogan for 2014 - In Japanese". Top League Internet Site. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 14 February 2014.

External links

• Munster Rugby Profile