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Clark Laidlaw

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Clark Laidlaw
Born (1977-07-16) 16 July 1977 (age 49)
Jedburgh, Scottish Borders, Scotland[1]
Notable relatives
Rugby union career
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Border Reivers[2]
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2001–2007 Scotland 93
Coaching career
Years Team
2013–2015 Hurricanes (Assistant coach)
2015–2016 London Irish (Assistant coach)
2017–2023 New Zealand Sevens
2023 New Zealand U20
2024–present Hurricanes
Medal record
Men's rugby sevens (as coach)
Representing  New Zealand
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place2020 TokyoSquad
Commonwealth Games
Gold medal – first place2018 Gold CoastSquad
Bronze medal – third place2022 BirminghamSquad

Clark Laidlaw (born 16 July 1977) is a Scottish professional rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, becoming coach of the team in late 2023 ahead of the 2024 season. Laidlaw was the New Zealand Sevens head coach before stepping down in 2023.[3][4][5][6][7]

Biography

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Laidlaw is the son of former Scotland and British Lions rugby union player Roy Laidlaw. His cousin, Greig Laidlaw, also represented Scotland and the Lions.[8][4] He represented Scotland internationally in rugby sevens[8][6] and moved to New Zealand in 2008.

In 2025, Laidlaw became a New Zealand citizen.[9]

Coaching career

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Laidlaw became the skills coach for Taranaki in 2010 then became the skills coach and video analyst with the New Zealand sevens team under Sir Gordon Tietjens from 2010 to 2012.[5] He made the move back to the 15-a-side game, as the assistant coach of the Hurricanes from 2013 to 2015.[3][8] He was also assistant coach of London Irish.[10][11]

In 2018, a year after becoming head coach of New Zealand sevens, the team won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.[12]

In 2020, Laidlaw guided New Zealand to win the World Rugby Sevens Series and in 2021, a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.[13][14]

In 2023 it was announced that Laidlaw would be stepping down as the New Zealand head coach and joining the Hurricanes as head coach from 2024.[7]

Awards and honours

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As Coach

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New Zealand Sevens

Hurricanes

Notes

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  1. ↑ Laidlaw was coach of the team for majority of the 2022–23 series, however, left to take up a role with the New Zealand U20 team before the final event in London.[17]

References

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  1. ↑ Shepard, Kit (1 July 2022). "Who is Clark Laidlaw: Ten things you should know about the New Zealand sevens coach". Rugby World.
  2. ↑ Lyall, Jamie (10 December 2015). "Prodigal Scot Clark Laidlaw sets sights on Edinburgh". BBC Sport.
  3. 1 2 Strang, Ben (21 January 2017). "New NZ Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw says he's a Kiwi when it comes to rugby". Stuff. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  4. 1 2 "Laidlaw talks sevens, New Zealand and Scotland". Scottish Rugby Union. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  5. 1 2 "Clark Laidlaw to become New Zealand Sevens Head Coach". London Irish. 16 November 2016. Archived from the original on 20 September 2020. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  6. 1 2 "Clark Laidlaw appointed Head Coach of All Blacks Sevens". RUGBY HEARTLAND. 17 November 2016. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  7. 1 2 "Rugby: Incoming Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw open to helping All Blacks Sevens in Olympics build-up". Newshub. 31 May 2023. Archived from the original on 15 February 2024. Retrieved 15 February 2024.
  8. 1 2 3 "Clark Laidlaw in sevens heaven with All Blacks". www.scotsman.com. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "Clark Laidlaw extends stay with Hurricanes to 2027". hurricanes.co.nz. Hurricanes. 19 March 2026. He won the 2018 Sevens World Cup, 2018 Commonwealth Games, 2020 World Sevens Series, and a silver medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics while All Blacks Sevens head coach.
  10. ↑ "Laidlaw to join London Irish". Hurricanes. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  11. ↑ "Doorey and Laidlaw join London Irish". BBC Sport. 3 March 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  12. ↑ Jones, Christopher (23 January 2020). "NZ coach Laidlaw: No second chances at Hamilton World Sevens". ESPN.com. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  13. ↑ Shannon, Kris (28 July 2021). "Silver for NZ: Fantastic Fiji too good for All Blacks Sevens in final". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  14. ↑ "Tokyo Olympics rugby sevens: Fiji claim gold, as NZ settle for silver". RNZ. 28 July 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2022.
  15. 1 2 Goldthorp, Craig (1 August 2022). "'The kids will remember it for the rest of their lives' - Jed Jaguars kids relish training session with All Blacks". The Southern Reporter. A year after guiding New Zealand to silver medals at the Tokyo Olympics, Laidlaw led the All Blacks to bronze medals in Birmingham.
  16. ↑ "Fiji 7s team thumps New Zealand in Rugby World Cup 7s final". Fiji One News. 12 September 2022.
  17. ↑ "All Blacks Sevens set to sign off outstanding season". allblacks.com. New Zealand Rugby. 18 May 2023.
  18. ↑ Morgan, Charlie (15 July 2026). "Meet the Scotsman who has created New Zealand's most exciting team". The Times.
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