Graham Henry

Graham Henry

Player information
birthday	June 8, 1946
place of birth	Christchurch , New Zealand
Coaching stations
Years	Association / Province / Franchise
1973–1981 1982–1991 1992–1997 1996–1998 1998–2002 2001 2003–2011	Auckland Grammar School Kelston Boys' High School Auckland Rugby Football Union Auckland Blues Wales British and Irish Lions All Blacks

Sir Graham Henry KNZM (born June 8, 1946 in Christchurch ) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and was the head coach of the All Blacks from 2003 to 2011 .

Early career

After graduating from Christchurch Boys High School in his native Christchurch , Henry studied sports at the University of Otago and graduated in 1969 with a diploma. He then became a teacher of sports and geography . He has taught at two schools known for their rugby union teams, the Auckland Grammar School and the Kelstons Boys' High School in Auckland . At the same time he studied education from 1973 to 1979 at Massey University . In 1982 he became the assistant principal of Kelstons Boys' High School and in 1987 principal. He held this job until 1996, when he became a professional rugby coach.

His first role as coach of a professional team was with the Auckland Rugby Football Union from 1992 to 1997. During his tenure, this team won the National Provincial Championship (NPC) every year from 1993 to 1996. Henry also coached the Auckland Blues in the Super 14 , winning that title in 1996 and 1997, and finishing second in 1998.

Wales and Lions

After he was not considered in the considerations of the head coach of the All Blacks , Henry left New Zealand in 1998 and was coach of the Welsh rugby union team . He was the highest paid rugby union coach in the world at the time, earning £ 250,000. His success in Wales led to the nickname "The Great Redeemer" (Eng. The great Redeemer); he won all major games eleven times in a row.

Henry then became the trainer of the British and Irish Lions in 2001 and was the first trainer who did not come from their country. In 2003 he returned to New Zealand as coach of the Auckland Blues .

All blacks

After the All Blacks had lost the semi-finals of the Rugby Union World Cup against Australia in 2003 , the position of national coach was advertised. Besides the incumbent John Mitchell , Henry was the only applicant and was successful.

The All Blacks coached by Henry won 19 out of 20 games up to June 2007. Expectations and disappointment were correspondingly high when New Zealand was eliminated from France in the quarter -finals of the 2007 Rugby Union World Cup . This was the worst performance of the All Blacks at a world championship. Henry was questioned accordingly. The position of coach of the national team was advertised again, but Henry received the position of national coach again for another two years in December 2007, beating competitor Robbie Deans , who shortly thereafter became national coach of the Australian national team.

After his renewed appointment as national coach, Henry Richie made McCaw captain of the All Blacks. In October 2011 at the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, Henry finally won the world title with the All Blacks as a coach. They beat France 8-7 in the final at Eden Park in Auckland. Henry announced his resignation as coach after the World Cup, his successor is the previous assistant coach Steve Hansen.

Private life

Henry met his wife, Raewyn, a netball coach, at university. The two have three children.

Web links

• Presenter Profile - GRAHAM HENRY (Sir) . SpeakerLink,accessed August 15, 2014. 

Individual evidence

1. ↑ Henry reappointed All Blacks coach , nzherald.co.nz. December 7, 2007.