Andrew Douglas (rugby union)
| Place of birth | Waikato, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Andrew Douglas is a New Zealand rugby union coach and the former head coach of Old Glory DC of Major League Rugby (MLR).
He is currently the head coach of the Hong Kong national team.
Professional rugby career
[edit]Douglas has been involved in coaching in Oceania, North America, Europe and Asia with previous positions including both assistant coaching and head coaching assignments with the New Zealand Schools,[1] coaching at under-19 level within the Waikato Rugby Union,[2] and as assistant coach to their senior representative squad,[3] including in the Mitre 10 Cup competition, and as a consultant with Super Rugby side, the Chiefs.[4]
On 31 May 2017, Italian side Biella Rugby Club announced that Andrew Douglas was their new coach for their 2017-18 season.[5] In Piedmont, Douglas guided Biella to promotion into Serie A in 2018. On 14 May 2018, just days after achieving promotion,[6] he announced that he was leaving to take up a role as Attacking and Backs Coach for the Toyota Shuttles of Japan's Top League, whom he joined for the 2018 season.[7]
On 9 May 2019, newly created Major League Rugby outfit Old Glory DC announced that Douglas was hired as their coach for their inaugural 2019 season.[8] With the team not expected to join MLR until the 2020 season, a series of exhibition games were arranged, with the New Zealander intended as being Head Coach for the duration. With Douglas at the helm, the team faced Ireland's Shannon, the Scotland U20s, Canada's Ontario Blues and the USA Rugby South Panthers respectively. While Old Glory lost the first two of these games, the campaign ultimately ended in a 2-2 record.[citation needed]
On 20 September 2019, Old Glory announced that Douglas had been hired as permanent Head Coach for the 2020 season with a contract running until 2021.[9] On 29 March 2022, Old Glory announced that Douglas is departing from the organization.[10]
In August 2023, Douglas was appointed Head of Technical and Elite Coaching at Hong Kong China Rugby, Hong Kong.[11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ "Waikato appointments for NZ schools rugby team". stuff.co.nz. 10 November 2010. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Waikato Under-19 rugby team named for national tournament". stuff.co.nz. 13 September 2015. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "ITM Cup Rd 3 - Waikato v Taranaki". Getty Images. 27 August 2014. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "UMAGA TO HELP COACH CHIEFS DEVELOPMENT SIDE". Tana Umaga Foundation. 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Biella Rugby, Andrew Douglas è il nuovo head coach". NewsBiella.it. 31 May 2017. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "TRANSFERTS TOP LEAGUE 2018". JaponRugby.net. 23 September 2019. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Il coach Andrew Douglas lascia il Biella Rugby: "Un privilegio avervi allenato"". NewsBiella.it. 14 May 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Old Glory DC Announces Exhibition Season Visiting Coach Andrew Douglas". DJ COIL Rugby. 9 May 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Old Glory DC Signed Andrew Douglas as Head Coach through 2021". DJ COIL Rugby. 20 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "Head Coach Andrew Douglas to Depart Old Glory DC". Old Glory DC. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "HKCR Welcomes New Recruits to Performance Department". Hong Kong China Rugby. 3 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2024.
- ^ "HKCR Adds Members To Performance Team". RugbyAsia247. 7 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2024.