Crowley goes Canadian
Wed, 19 Mar 2008 17:01
The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) has paid tribute to one of its leading coaches, All Black Kieran Crowley, who has been appointed coach of the Canadian national team.
The former All Black has been an NZRU resource coach for the past nine years, was an All Blacks selector in 2002 and 2003, coached last year's New Zealand that won the International Rugby Board (IRB) Under-19 championship and was coach and assistant coach with the Taranaki provincial team for nine years.
"I'm really looking forward to the opportunity to coach the Canadian side," Crowley said.
"I have been very lucky to have had the support of a lot of people as a coach in New Zealand, especially the coaches, players and staff in Taranaki, and I'm now looking forward to the next move in my coaching career."
NZRU Chief Executive Steve Tew said Crowley had an outstanding coaching career in New Zealand and said his appointment reflected the standing New Zealand coaches have on the world stage.
"There is an ongoing global demand for New Zealand coaches and with New Zealand coaches leading Wales, Australia, the United States and now Canada, it's clear they are recognised as among the best in the world," Tew said.
"We see that as a vote of confidence in the New Zealand rugby coaching set-up and recognition of the exceptional skills our coaches have."
Tew said while there were those who were concerned when any New Zealand coach or player went overseas, the NZRU recognised that many of our top coaches aspire to develop as coaches and to coach at the highest level.
"We wish them well and if they return to New Zealand they will come home as better coaches through the experience gained in other rugby environments.
"Our challenge is to continue to have the best coach development systems in place to maintain depth in New Zealand coaching talent and to also provide an attractive environment for our best coaches to work in."
Crowley will start his new role with Rugby Canada next month and will be based in Victoria in British Columbia.
