Rugby: New Canterbury coach named

Glenn Delaney will take over as Canterbury coach next season. Photo / Getty

Canterbury have wasted little time in replacing Crusaders-bound Scott Robertson as head coach of their Mitre 10 Cup Premiership-winning team.

A born and bred Cantabrian, Glenn Delaney joins Canterbury Rugby from London Irish where he has most recently been head of rugby operations following on from being head coach. Prior to this he was director of rugby at Nottingham RFC where he helped take the organisation from a part-time rugby club through to a fully operating professional rugby programme. During his career in the north, he has been invited to coach the UK Barbarians on two occasions.

Delaney started his playing career at the Linwood club before heading overseas in 1993 to play in Japan, UK and France.

Chief executive of Canterbury Rugby Hamish Riach says Delaney has the credentials and vision to be an outstanding Canterbury coach.

"Glenn comes to the role with an incredible breadth of coaching and rugby experience. He is not only an exceptional coach but is also highly experienced in rugby operations, succession planning and management. The vast breadth of experience that Glenn brings to role is something that the team and the organisation can really benefit from and we are thrilled that Glenn's positive influence and experience will shape the 2017 Canterbury side.

"We had some exceptional candidates apply for the role, which is a great reflection on the strength of provincial rugby in New Zealand, and it is great to see such a highly contended role," Riach said.

Delaney says that taking on the Canterbury coaching role is great honour: "This is a team that I grew up with and I am excited to be returning home to be a part of such a successful organisation. It is a real privilege to be coming in as the head coach of the current Mitre 10 Cup and Ranfurly Shield holders. The team is the standard bearer for NZ provincial rugby and I know I will have my work cut out for me in the years ahead, but I am excited by the opportunity and I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Delaney will join Canterbury Rugby on a three-year term from December 1.