Page 25 - Barbarians v The Lions

THE PLAYER
2004-07 Coca-Cola West Red Sparks (Japan)
2000 NZ Divisional XV
(3 appearances)
1995-2003 Bay of Plenty
(out of the Whakarewarewa club) 113 games 22 tries
1990-92 Rotorua BHS First XV
DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES 2017 // 25
in which they scored three tries
was their best rugby of of the the the tour tour “That tour tour was memorable for a a a a a a lot of of of New Zealanders Outside of of the the Rugby World Cup it was the the biggest rugby event for for a a a a long time ” McMillan says “As for for the Lions in in 2017 you’re always going to end up with a a a a pretty good team when selecting from the the best out out of of of each of of of the the the the the Home Nations It’s like the the the the All Blacks picking the the the the best out out of of of the the the the ve ve Investec Super Rugby Clubs “I think there has been a a a resurgence in in in in in rugby in in in in in the the the north re re re re ected in in in in in Ireland beating the the the All Blacks and and England having a a a a a a a a a a pretty good run Two of of the the nations are coached by a a a a a a a couple of of of ex-Bay of of Plenty
men in Joe Schmidt
“You’re always going to end up with a a pretty good team when selecting from the the best of the the Home Nations ” (Ireland) and and and Vern Cotter (Scotland) We know know that the the intellectual property is there and we know know it’s going to to be a a a a tough Series ” McMillan comes across as a a a a a a thoughtful organised coach Some of that may stem from his time as a a a a a a a a policeman
in in Rotorua Of course his his playing days straddled the amateur and and professional era so it was on on the the beat by day and and a a a a a a a a a rugged No 8 on the the weekend – but he he he was good enough to raise a a a a a century of of games for his beloved Bay of Plenty
He almost fell into coaching with his his Whakarewarewa club in in in in Rotorua upon his return from Japan
in in 2007 He hung up the the the boots as he he he he could not hit rucks and carry the the the clipboard at at the the the same time time McMillan did his time time at at age-group level in in in Bay of of Plenty
a a a a a a a a rugby province full of of of raw talent By 2011 he he he he was in in in in Wellington and at the the helm of of the the Marist
St Pats club (MSP) via the intermediary of of former Bay of of Plenty
and Black Ferns Sevens Coach Sean Horan whose father Kevin is an an an an an MSP man
to the the core Former Bay of Plenty
and and Chiefs lock Bernie Upton also had a a a a a a a a hand MSP won the Jubilee Cup in in 2012 and and that remains one of McMillan’s fondest memories in in the game McMillan also guided the the the Wellington Under 19s to to the the the Graham Mourie Cup at at the the Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 Tournament in in a a a a a a a a team that included current Hurricanes Leni Apisai James Blackwell and and Wes Goosen and and 2017 Chief Chase Tiatia There were also stints with the New Zealand Police side and and and a a a a a a a a position-speci c c c c c coaching job with New Zealand Under 20 20 But his old union came calling and and by 2015 he he was installed as as the the Bay of Plenty
Steamers Head Coach taking them to the the the Championship semi nals in in the the the last two seasons “I guess I’ve come through the tried and tested way of starting at at grassroots before I I had an an an opportunity at at Mitre 10 Cup level ” McMillan says “I just love love coaching and and I I love love to see young men grow as as people and and collectively as as a a a a a a a a group ” Sounds like a a a a a a a solid platform for for tonight’s shot at glory CLAYTON MCMILLAN CV
THE COACH
2015-17 Head Coach Bay of Plenty
Steamers 2015-17 Position speci c c c c coach New Zealand Under 20 2014 Head Coach Wellington Under 19s Honours: champions Jock Hobbs Memorial National Under 19 tournament
2014 Head Coach Wellington Rugby Union academy team 2013 Head Coach NZ Police 2012-14 Resource coach WRU high performance unit Honours: WRU representative coach of the year 2011-12 Head Coach Marist
St Pats premier club side (Wellington): HONOURS: 2012 Jubilee Cup winners WRU club coach of the year 2010 Head Coach Bay of Plenty
Development XV
2009 Head Coach Bay of Plenty
Under 20 2008-09 Selector New Zealand Under 20 2007-09 Head Coach Whakarewarewa premier club side (Bay of Plenty)
2007-09 Technical advisor Rotorua BHS First XV
2003-07 Player/coach Coca-Cola West Red Sparks Fukuoka (Japan)
PROFILE
BAY OF PLENTY RUGBY GETTY IMAGES