Graham Henry – Coach Profile
Graham Henry is currently the Head Coach with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU)’s All Blacks team. Previously, Henry has been known as an all-round sportsman who has officially played rugby for Canterbury and cricket for Otago.
Henry was born in June 1946 in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. He finished his high school years at the Christchurch Boys High School and in 1969 he graduated from the University of Otago, majoring with a Diploma in Physical Education. Later in 1979,
Henry applied for the Bachelor of Education program at Massey University.
After he graduated from the University of Otago, he taught geography and physical education at the Kelston Boys' High School in 1982. However, he had previously worked at the Auckland Grammar School until 1981. At both schools he coached the boys rugby teams.
During his stint as head master at Kelston, Henry also coached Auckland’s provincial team in the National Provincial Championship (NPC) cup from1992 to 1997. He helped them win this title in the years 1993, 1994, 1995 and in 1996. He left his post at the
Kelston High School in 1996 to take up coaching as a full time job and went on to coach the Blues in 1996. His skills took the team through the Super 12 seasons of 1996-1998, helping them win in the first two years and taking them to the final in 1998 but
not taking the cup home.
In 1998, he left the Blues and the NZRU to coach for Wales. The same year he had also applied for the coaching position with the All Blacks but was unable to make the final cut and instead opted for Wales. Henry, while coaching for Wales, became the highest
paid coach ever and led the team to 11 successful wins. During this time he also coached the British and Irish Lions as their first foreign coach. Unfortunately, the Lions’ lost their 2001 Australian tour under Henry’s tutelage. After the Wales defeat of 54-10,
at the Six Nations in 2002, Henry left Wales to go back to the NZRU.
His return to New Zealand helped the Blues win the Super 12 in 2003. The position for the All Blacks coach opened again in 2003 and Henry finally got his chance to be the national Head Coach. He faced his first opponents with the All Blacks in 2004 and this
test series was won by the Kiwis. Another test series against France was captured as well. Otherwise, the 2004 season was a bust for Henry as they were last in that year’s Tri-Nations tournament table.
However, the 2005 season was extremely good for the All Blacks. Henry took them through the Tri-Nations, helping them win the title. They also won a 3-0 victory against the British and Irish Lions. This was also a season for awards and the coach won his
first International Rugby Board (IRB) Coach of the Year Award, the All Blacks were honoured with IRB Team of the Year Award and the All blacks player and fly-half, Daniel Carter, won the IRB Player of the year award.
Similarly, the 2006 season once again earned Henry the Coach of the Year award, the All Blacks Team of the Year and the skipper Richie McCaw the Player of the Year. They also won the Tri-Nations and other test series matches.
However, the 2007 season had its hits and misses. The team lost the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2007 to France. Nonetheless, his job was renewed for another two years. He again won the honour of renewal of contract, which was extended till
the 2011 season and the RWC.
His successes have always been in question, most especially because of his rotation policy. This policy where all the players are constantly rotated through the positions has resulted in the All Blacks having to undergo competition before every match. Despite
reservations from the public, he has taken the team All Blacks through two Grand Slam wins against other nations. Further, he has been awarded the Coach of the Year four times, including 2008 and 2010.
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