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Clark Laidlaw

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Clark Laidlaw
Date of birth (1977-07-16) 16 July 1977 (age 47)
Place of birthScotland
Rugby union career
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2001–2007 Scotland 7s 93
Coaching career
Years Team
2024-present Hurricanes (head coach)
2017–2023 New Zealand 7s (head coach)
2015–2016 London Irish (assistant coach)
2013–2015 Hurricanes (assistant coach)

Clark Laidlaw (born 16 July 1977) is a Scottish professional rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Hurricanes. Laidlaw was formerly the All Blacks Sevens Head Coach before stepping down in 2023.[1][2][3][4][5]

Biography

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Laidlaw is the son of former British & Irish Lions and Scotland international rugby union player Roy Laidlaw. His cousin, Greig Laidlaw, also represented the British & Irish Lions and Scotland.[6][2] He represented Scotland internationally in sevens[6][4] and moved to New Zealand in 2008.

Coaching Career

Laidlaw became the Skills Coach for Taranaki in 2010 then became the Skills Coach and Video Analyst with the New Zealand sevens team under Sir Gordon Tietjens from 2010 to 2012.[3] He made the move back to the 15-aside game, as the Assistant Coach of the Hurricanes from 2013 to 2015.[1][6] He was also Assistant Coach of the London Irish.[7][8]

In 2018, a year after becoming Head Coach of the All Blacks Sevens, New Zealand won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[9]

In 2020, Laidlaw guided the All Blacks Sevens to win the World Rugby Sevens Series and in 2021, a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.[10][11]

In 2023 it was announced that Laidlaw would be stepping down as the All Blacks Sevens head coach and joining the Hurricanes as head coach from 2024.[5]

References

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  1. ^ a b Strang, Ben (21 January 2017). "New NZ Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw says he's a Kiwi when it comes to rugby". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Laidlaw talks sevens, New Zealand and Scotland". Scottish Rugby Union. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Clark Laidlaw to become New Zealand Sevens Head Coach". London Irish. 16 November 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. ^ a b "Clark Laidlaw appointed Head Coach of All Blacks Sevens". RUGBY HEARTLAND. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. ^ a b "Rugby: Incoming Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw open to helping All Blacks Sevens in Olympics build-up". Newshub. 31 May 2023. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  6. ^ a b c "Clark Laidlaw in sevens heaven with All Blacks". www.scotsman.com. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Laidlaw to join London Irish". Hurricanes. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Doorey and Laidlaw join London Irish". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  9. ^ Jones, Christopher (23 January 2020). "NZ coach Laidlaw: No second chances at Hamilton World Sevens". ESPN.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  10. ^ Shannon, Kris (28 July 2021). "Silver for NZ: Fantastic Fiji too good for All Blacks Sevens in final". NZ Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  11. ^ "Tokyo Olympics rugby sevens: Fiji claim gold, as NZ settle for silver". RNZ. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
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