Head Coach
Wesley Clarke
Wesley Clarke is a New Zealand rugby union head coach at Manawatu who spent seven years as a Black Ferns assistant coach and won the Women's Rugby World Cup in 2017 and 2021.
New Zealand
Background
Wesley Clarke spent seven years as an assistant coach with the Black Ferns, a run that took in two Women's Rugby World Cup titles, in 2017 and in 2021. He led the Hurricanes Poua through the inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season in 2022 and assisted the New Zealand Under-20s in 2023. Since 2025 he has been head coach of the Manawatu Turbos, the province where he first coached more than a decade earlier.
Honours
- Assistant coach, Black Ferns (New Zealand women), 2015-2022
- Women's Rugby World Cup winner as assistant coach, 2017 and 2021 (played 2022)
- Head coach, Hurricanes Poua, inaugural Super Rugby Aupiki season 2022
- Head coach, Manawatu Turbos (NPC), 2025-
- Assistant coach, New Zealand U20, 2023
Career
- Manawatu (2010-2013), Assistant Coach
- Black Ferns (2015-2022), Assistant Coach
- Women's Rugby World Cup winner 2017, 2021
- Hurricanes Poua (2022), Head Coach
- New Zealand U20 (2023), Assistant Coach
- Manawatu Turbos (2025-present), Head Coach
Strengths
- Attack Structure
- Player Development
- Tactical Innovation
- Leadership
- Technical Excellence
- Team Building
Free guides
Guides with Wesley Clarke
- Coaching Rugby Union: How to Coach a Rugby TeamSession structure, season planning, coaching styles and mixed-ability groups, the practical craft of running a team, not just drills.
- Fun Rugby Games for Kids and Junior TrainingWarm-up, evasion, handling and small-sided games that keep juniors moving and laughing while quietly building the skills that matter.
- Rugby Positions by Body Type: Which Fits YouThe height, weight and speed profile behind every shirt, and how to find the one that fits you.
Train with Wesley Clarke
Sessions, programming and breakdowns from Wesley Clarke and the rest of the coaching group sit inside Elite Rugby App.
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