Manawatū Rugby is proud to announce that former Turbos Assistant Coach and Cyclones Coach Wesley Clarke has been appointed as the Turbos Head Coach and Head of Performance Rugby.   

Clarke has signed on for the role until December 2027 and will oversee three NPC campaigns.

Currently the Defence Coach at the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in Japan Rugby League One,

Clarke has a storied history with Manawatū Rugby. He served as Turbos Manager before taking on the Forwards Coach role from 2011 to 2013, helping guide the team to the Championship final in 2011. Clarke was head coach of the Manawatū Cyclones in 2009 and 2013 and coached the Manawatū Women’s Sevens title to back-to-back national finals, including the title in 2016.

Wesley Clarke in 2012 during his time as Turbos Assistant Coach

Clarke has also coached the Feilding High School boys First XV and Sevens teams, guiding the First XV to a national coeducational title in 2016.   

At international level, Clarke served as an Assistant Coach of the Black Ferns from 2015 to 2022.  He played a significant role in the team’s 2017 and 2022 World Cup triumphs. Clarke was also assistant coach of the New Zealand Under 20 men’s team in 2023 and coached the Hurricanes Poua in the inaugural season of Super Rugby Aupiki in 2022.

Clarke will officially start in the role in mid-June 2025 after finishing his commitments with Kobe. In the interim, he will be working closely with the MRU performance team management to ensure plans are in place to support players and programmes in the lead up to the season. He will also return to the province in the lead up to his start date to ensure plans are on track.

Clarke’s family is based in the Manawatū, so he will be living here for the entirety of his tenure.

Wesley Clarke with the Kobe players who were on loan to Manawatū this year.

Clarke says, “I am really excited about taking on this role, especially about working in a community that has given me so much. I have had great coaching experiences since last being involved with the Turbos and I cannot wait to apply the lessons from those experiences here in the Manawatu. I am especially looking forward to contributing to the wider rugby community as we build strong foundations for the Turbos and Cyclones.”

Manawatū Rugby Chief Executive Doug Tietjens says Clarke’s experience as a high-level coach and his connection to the province made him the perfect fit for the role.

“Wesley has extensive experience coaching at a pathway, performance, and elite level which has translated to success on the field. His eight  years in the Black Ferns setup, which included two World Cups, shows the value he brings as a coach.

“Wesley has already made a massive contribution to and impact on Manawatū Rugby and rugby in the Manawatū province through his previous coaching roles. He is fully committed to our rugby community and elevating our  performance and pathway programmes. The community want  a local coach who understands our people and province to lead the Turbos and performance and pathway programs, and Wesley Clarke is that person.”

Article added: Monday 11 November 2024