John Mitchell (rugby player)
Encyclopedia
John Eric Paul Mitchell, (born 23 March 1964 in Hawera
, New Zealand
) is a noted former rugby union
player and former coach for the New Zealand All Blacks
. Mitchell's rugby career blossomed with the club side Fraser-Tech after he moved from King Country
in 1984 and was soon elected Waikato Colts
captain. He is currently the coach of the Golden Lions
, having been released as coach of the Western Force
. He will take up coaching the Lions in the 2011 Super Rugby competition.
's Francis Douglas Memorial College
he made the first XV and he was a member of the NZ secondary schools basketball team from 1981-83. He represented NZ Juniors in basketball in 1982-83, but then decided to concentrate on rugby.
Mitchell was given the Waikato captaincy in 1989. In 1990, because of a broken leg, he could only play half the games. He was reappointed captain in 1991 and led magnificently from that time on until his retirement just prior to the start of the 1995 season. He captained the side a record 86 times. Overall he played 134 games for Waikato and scored 67 tries. In the off season, Mitchell played club rugby in France and Ireland.
The All Blacks disappointing results in the 2003 World Cup
played a part in Mitchell not regaining the All Blacks coaching position when the NZRFU called for candidates for the position. Mitchell has since taken up the position of the Waikato NPC coach, which he held for the 2004 season, and in mid 2005 was successful in taking up the role of coach for the Australian expansion side, The Western Force
, for the 2006 Super 14 competition. In March 2010, Mitchell announced that he would step down as coach of the Force once his contract expires at the end of the 2011 season.
In 2010, he was appointed coach of the Golden Lions
for the 2010 Currie Cup
. Later that year he was appointed the coach of the Super Rugby side, the Lions.
At the end of 2010 the Golden Lions finished sixth out of eight teams on the Currie Cup log.
On 29 October, 2011 it was Kiwi against Kiwi in the 2011 Currie Cup
final when Mitchell's Golden Lions
hosted a star-studded The Sharks
rugby team under fellow Kiwi John Plumtree
in Johannesburg
. The Natal Sharks
team included the full Springbok front row as well as seven more Springboks.
The Golden Lions
won the match with 42 points to 16 to win their first Currie Cup Championship in 12 years and also winning their first Currie Cup title on their home field in 61 years.
Hawera
Hawera is the second-largest town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand's North Island, with a population of . It is near the coast of the South Taranaki Bight, 75 kilometres south of New Plymouth on State Highway 3 and 20 minutes' drive from Mount Taranaki/Egmont.It is also on State Highway 45,...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a noted former rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player and former coach for the New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
. Mitchell's rugby career blossomed with the club side Fraser-Tech after he moved from King Country
King Country Rugby Football Union
The King Country Rugby Football Union is a constituent union in the New Zealand Rugby Union. It is located in the central North Island of New Zealand...
in 1984 and was soon elected Waikato Colts
Waikato Rugby Union
The Waikato Rugby Union is the official governing body of rugby union in the Waikato area in the North Island of New Zealand. Its senior representative team competes in the ITM Cup , and won the inaugural Air New Zealand Cup in 2006.Waikato Rugby Union was founded in 1921...
captain. He is currently the coach of the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
, having been released as coach of the Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
. He will take up coaching the Lions in the 2011 Super Rugby competition.
Early career
As a pupil at New PlymouthNew Plymouth
New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated....
's Francis Douglas Memorial College
Francis Douglas Memorial College
Francis Douglas Memorial College is an all-boys state integrated Catholic school located in Westown, New Plymouth, New Zealand. The college was founded in 1959 under the leadership of the De La Salle Brothers, a religious order of brothers based on the teachings of St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle...
he made the first XV and he was a member of the NZ secondary schools basketball team from 1981-83. He represented NZ Juniors in basketball in 1982-83, but then decided to concentrate on rugby.
Provincial
He made his Waikato senior debut in 1985 and played at number eight, blindside flanker and lock before he became firmly established at number eight. Equal top scorer in first division rugby in 1989-90, he thus scored more tries over these seasons than any other NZ first division player.Mitchell was given the Waikato captaincy in 1989. In 1990, because of a broken leg, he could only play half the games. He was reappointed captain in 1991 and led magnificently from that time on until his retirement just prior to the start of the 1995 season. He captained the side a record 86 times. Overall he played 134 games for Waikato and scored 67 tries. In the off season, Mitchell played club rugby in France and Ireland.
Coaching
Mitchell coached in England, including a stint as England's assistant coach. He was appointed coach of the Chiefs' Super 12 side for 2001, and on 3 October 2001 was appointed as All Black coach through to the 2003 World Cup.The All Blacks disappointing results in the 2003 World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
played a part in Mitchell not regaining the All Blacks coaching position when the NZRFU called for candidates for the position. Mitchell has since taken up the position of the Waikato NPC coach, which he held for the 2004 season, and in mid 2005 was successful in taking up the role of coach for the Australian expansion side, The Western Force
Western Force
Western Force is a rugby union team based in Perth, Western Australia playing in the international Super Rugby competition. They first competed in the 2006 season and finished with the wooden spoon in that year, however their performances greatly improved in 2007. In 2008 they finished in 8th...
, for the 2006 Super 14 competition. In March 2010, Mitchell announced that he would step down as coach of the Force once his contract expires at the end of the 2011 season.
In 2010, he was appointed coach of the Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
for the 2010 Currie Cup
2010 Currie Cup Premier Division
-Fixtures and results:* Fixtures are subject to change.* All times are South African .-Round One:-Round Two:-Round Three:-Round Four:-Round Five:-Round Six:...
. Later that year he was appointed the coach of the Super Rugby side, the Lions.
At the end of 2010 the Golden Lions finished sixth out of eight teams on the Currie Cup log.
On 29 October, 2011 it was Kiwi against Kiwi in the 2011 Currie Cup
2011 Currie Cup Premier Division
The 2011 Currie Cup Premier Division was the 72nd season in the competition since it started in 1889 and was contested from July to October 2011...
final when Mitchell's Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
hosted a star-studded The Sharks
The Sharks
The Sharks are a new wave band founded in Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1979, by Doug Phillips , Steve Zero , Sam Lugar , and Dave Schaeffer.-History:...
rugby team under fellow Kiwi John Plumtree
John Plumtree
John Plumtree is the current head coach of the Natal Sharks, a rugby union team which competes in South Africa's national provincial competition, the Currie Cup. As a player Plumtree won two Currie Cup medals with the Sharks ; and as a coach he guided the Sharks to Currie Cup wins in 2008 and...
in Johannesburg
Johannesburg
Johannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa...
. The Natal Sharks
Natal Sharks
The Natal Sharks are a South African rugby union team that participate in the annual Currie Cup and Super Rugby tournaments. The Sharks home stadium is Kings Park. They draw most of their players from the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The Sharks are the current representative team of the Natal rugby...
team included the full Springbok front row as well as seven more Springboks.
The Golden Lions
Golden Lions
The Golden Lions is a provincial rugby team based in Johannesburg, South Africa. The team was originally known as Transvaal, before changes to the political landscape in South Africa forced a name change to the Gauteng Lions, before again being changed to the Golden Lions. For sponsorship reason...
won the match with 42 points to 16 to win their first Currie Cup Championship in 12 years and also winning their first Currie Cup title on their home field in 61 years.