Sir Graham Henry
Sir Graham Henry coached the All Blacks to glory in the 2011 Rugby World Cup, at home in New Zealand. He was then awarded Coach of the Year at the IRB awards, receiving this award for a record 5th time. Although he has stepped down from his head coaching role, Sir Graham will remain in New Zealand and continue to share his extensive skills and knowledge with local rugby coaches and players.
Sir Graham has an enviable coaching record and struck gold in his first Test as All Blacks coach beating the reigning Rugby World Champions England at Dunedin in June 2004. He went on to win his first six Test matches and keep the Bledisloe Cup in New Zealand’s trophy cabinet before two defeats against Australia and South Africa away from home. His team then headed to Europe on an end-of-year tour where they beat Italy, Wales, France and the Barbarians.
In 2005 the All Blacks won 11 of their 12 Test matches. In June they were too strong for the British and Irish Lions winning the series three Tests to none. They were the Philips Tri Nations Champions and completed the Grand Slam tour of the UK and Ireland to finish the year at number one in the IRB World Rankings. Sir Graham picked up the Coach of the Year award at the IRB Awards in Paris and the All Blacks were named Team of the Year.
Sir Graham was in charge of the hugely successful Auckland team, which won four NPC titles in succession (1993 – 1996), and the Auckland Blues Super 12 team, which was the competition winner in 1996 and 1997 and runner-up in 1998.
He made his international coaching debut in 1998 with Wales, where he stayed for four years. His major achievements in that role included wins over England and South Africa. In 2001, he became the first non-British or Irishman to coach the Lions on their tour of Australia.
On his return to New Zealand, Sir Graham joined Auckland as defensive co-ordinator and technical analyst. The effect was immediate with Auckland lifting the 2002 National Provincial Championship, a feat that resulted in the Blues, starved of success since Sir Graham left for Wales, quickly tying him up for the 2003 Super 12 – which the Blues went on to win.
For much of his life rugby coaching was very much secondary to Sir Graham's school teaching career. His time at Auckland Grammar, where he nurtured players like Grant Fox, was followed by the headmaster's job at Kelston Boys High School, from 1987 – 1996. Sir Graham himself played Senior Rugby and Cricket in Christchurch, Dunedin and Auckland, and First Class Cricket for Canterbury and Otago.
In the January 2012 New Years Honours, Sir Graham was made a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to rugby.
Sir Graham’s speaking topics include the high performance environment, team culture, motivation, team development and his own experiences. His presentations are readily applicable to the business environment, as well as the sporting arena.
More information
To request more information, add Sir Graham Henry to your shortlist.