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Ex-All Blacks star Matt Todd joins Canterbury coaching staff for NPC
Former All Blacks flanker Matt Todd has been unveiled as one of four newly-appointed Canterbury coaches for this year’s NPC.
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The Canterbury Rugby Football Union announced on Tuesday that Todd will join the province’s overhauled coaching staff for the 2022 NPC campaign alongside head coach Marty Bourke and assistants Alex Robertson and Craig Dunlea.
Todd, a 25-test international who played for the All Blacks between 2013 and 2019, forms part of Canterbury’s coaching set-up as he transitions from playing in Japan, where he plies his trade for the Toshiba Brave Lupus.
The 34-year-old featured for Toshiba as recently as a fortnight ago when the Brave Lupus were knocked out of the Japan Rugby League One semi-finals by Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath.
Todd has since returned to New Zealand as he prepares to help coach the province he represented 72 times between 2009 and 2017.
Joining Todd in Canterbury’s coaching staff is Bourke, who has been promoted to head coach after acting as an assistant under co-coaches Reuben Thorne and Mark Brown last year.
“I am honoured to be given the opportunity to lead a great group of people in this year’s NPC campaign,” Bourke said in a statement.
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“Our players and support staff are all passionate about Canterbury rugby and its success. We are extremely excited about stamping our mark and adding to the 143-year-old legacy of Canterbury rugby.
“Working with Craig, Alex and Matt is something I am looking forward to. They have all proven in their respective coaching pathways great character, a growth mindset, and a strong work ethic. They will be invaluable to our environment this year.”
Currently at the helm of Major League Rugby franchise Rugby New York, Bourke will return to Christchurch upon the completion of his commitments in the United States.
It’s in the Garden City where he’ll be accompanied by Robertson, who has worked his way from the ground up in the Canterbury coaching scene, having taken charge of clubs at grassroots level through to representative sides.
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Those teams include Canterbury Country Colts, Canterbury U19, Canterbury B and, most recently, the Crusaders U20 side.
“I’m extremely proud of the opportunity to be able to coach Canterbury,” Robertson, who will take charge of the backs, said via a statement.
“Time spent coaching in the pathways has allowed me to contribute to the development of several players who are in the current squad, and it will be great to coach them again and help continue their development along with the rest of the squad.
“My coaching journey has shown me the meaning of playing for Canterbury and what wearing the badge means for players, families, and the community.
“To be able to contribute at a senior level is a proud moment for me and my family and I look forward to adding to the history of the badge.”
Robertson will be accompanied in his assistant role by Dunlea, who is set to take on more responsibility as a forwards coach after working as a set piece coach last year.
“I’m really excited to get an opportunity to be the assistant coach of Canterbury,” Dunlea said.
“Being involved with the scrum crew last year gave me a real insight to the expectation and responsibility the role carries, with the players, supporters, and region.”
“I’m really looking forward to engaging with Marty, Alex, and Matt, and reconnecting with the players.”
Bourke, Robertson, Dunlea and Todd take charge of Canterbury a year after they were knocked of the NPC in the Premiership semi-finals by eventual champions Waikato.
They will look to go two places better this season, which kicks-off against Manawatu in the competition-opener at Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North on August 5.
Comments on RugbyPass
“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
3 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
2 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
3 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
3 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
3 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
2 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
4 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
3 Go to commentsBeaches? In Cardiff? Where?
1 Go to commentsHe is right , the Crusaders will be a threat. Scott Barrett, ( particularly), Fergus Burke , Codie Taylor, ( from sabbatical) etc due back soon for the Crusaders. There are others like Zach Gallagher too. People can right the Crusaders off, Top 8 , here we come !!
1 Go to commentsWe will always struggle for money to match the other sides but the least the WRU can do is invest properly in Welsh rugby. Too much has been squandered on vanity projects like the hotel and roof walk amongst others which will never see a massive return. Hanging the 4 pro sides out to dry over the last decade is now coming back to bite the WRU financially as well as on the pitch. You reap what you sow.
1 Go to commentsWhat do you get if you cross a doctor with a fish? A plastic sturgeon
14 Go to commentsWhat happened to feleti Kaitu’u? Hasnt played in a while right?
1 Go to commentsGregor I just can’t agree with you. You are trying to find something that just isn’t there. Jordie Barrett has signed until 2028. By the end of that he would have spent probably 11-12 years on Super Rugby and you say he can’t possibly have one season playing somewhere else. It is absurd. What about this scenario, the NZR play hard ball and he decides to leave and play overseas. How would that affect the competition. There seems to be an agenda by certain journalists to push certain agendas and don’t like it when it’s not to their liking. I fully support the NZR on this. Gregor needs to get a life.
3 Go to commentsHope he stays as believe he can do a great job.
1 Go to comments