Derren Witcombe

Derren John Charles Witcombe (born 30 October 1978) is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. As a player, he played at hooker. He was educated at Pompallier Catholic College.

Derren Witcombe
Birth nameDerren John Charles Witcombe
Date of birth (1978-10-30) 30 October 1978
Place of birthHobart, Australia
Height1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight108 kg (238 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Hooker
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
Hora Hora ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
2001–02
2003–06		 Northland
Auckland
  • 20
  • 30
Super Rugby
Years Team Apps (Points)
2002–07 Blues 53 (15)
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2005
2007		 New Zealand
Junior All Blacks
  • 5
  • (0)
Coaching career
Years Team
2013–14, 17–
2015–16		 Northland
Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars

He played for the All Blacks in 2005 and at Super Rugby level for the Blues between 2002 and 2007. He represented Northland and then Auckland at provincial level.

Witcombe retired from playing in 2007 due to a neck injury.[1][2] He took up coaching and was appointed head coach of Northland in the 2013 and 2014 National Provincial Championships. He departed suddenly in early 2015 to take up a position at Japanese club Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.[3]

In February 2017, Witcombe signed a contract to return to the Northland province as head coach for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup.[4]

Witcombe grew up on a dry stock farm in Taupo Bay before attending high school in Whangarei, where he pursued both Rugby and Cricket.[5] He played Cricket for the Northland province as a wicket keeper/batsman.[6]

He went on to work in forestry for four years, playing both Rugby and Cricket at club level, making his debut for Northland in 2001.

Notes and references
  1. Luxford, Bob. "Derren Witcombe". allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  2. "Derren Witcombe". theblues.co.nz. Archived from the original on 17 October 2015. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  3. Thorley, Peter (14 February 2015). "Shock exit stuns Taniwha". The Northern Advocate. stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 31 August 2015.
  4. "Rugby: Witcombe returns as Northland coach". m.nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 3 June 2017.
  5. Paul, Gregor (26 June 2005). "Derren never gave up on dream". NZ Herald. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  6. "Derren Witcombe | allblacks.com". All Blacks. Retrieved 20 December 2017.


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