Super Rugby Franchise Blues interested in securing services of Graham Henry – Rugby News
Auckland based New Zealand Super Rugby franchise, Blues, have confirmed their interest in securing the services of former All Blacks World Cup winning head coach, Graham Henry. Henry’s contract
with the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) expired at the end of their successful 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign.
Blues Chief Executive Officer, Andy Dalton, has confirmed their interest while talking to the Sunday News on Monday, November 14. He added that the Blues are looking forward to the arrival
of Henry to help them claim the Super Rugby crown for the first time in the last eight years. Blues last won the Super Rugby championship way back in 2003.
Dalton said, “He (Graham Henry) is aware of our interest and we'll be talking to him over the next few months to see how that might look.”
It is also reported that the governing body of Rugby Union in New Zealand, NZRU, is in discussions with Henry on a possibility of offering him a new contract to work as a coaching mentor for
the provincial and Super Rugby sides. The contract also allows Henry to work overseas.
Dalton has praised Henry’s skills, abilities and coaching styles. He termed Henry’s wealth of experience as invaluable. He also stated his desire to engage the coach with the Blues coaching
team. He added, “There's no formal offer but we are aware the NZRU is talking to him and we're on the case with that. We'd certainly be keen to see as much of him as we can.”
Blues current head coach, Pat Lam, who is also a close friend of Graham Henry has backed NZRU’s plan to appoint Henry in the coaching mentor role. Commenting on Henry, Lam added, “He's been
one of the big mentors in my coaching career and also a very good friend. We talk rugby a lot, we share ideas. Nothing has changed, even though he's a world champion.”
Blues finished fourth in the 2011 Super Rugby competition with 60 points coming from their 16 matches in the season. They won 10 of their round matches, lost five while played a draw game.
Blues are the first of the five New Zealand based Super Rugby franchises who publically have announced their interest in the expertise of Henry to improve their performance.
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