14 Facts About Brian McClennan

Brian "Bluey" McClennan was born on 16 February 1962 and is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer and coach.

Brian McClennan was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team and then England's Leeds Rhinos club.

Brian McClennan is the son of former St Helens coach Mike Brian McClennan.

Brian McClennan started his playing career at Mt Albert under the guidance of his dad, Mike.

When his dad moved to Northcote in 1989, Brian McClennan moved and was a part of the team which won the Auckland Rugby League grand final that year.

Brian McClennan represented Auckland and in what was to be his final representative game he captained the province to a win over the touring Great Britain side.

Brian McClennan then took over as coach of third division Auckland side, the Hibiscus Coast Raiders, and led them to repeated Auckland Rugby League successes until they were invited to be part of the national Bartercard Cup.

Brian McClennan coached the Hibiscus Coast Raiders and Mt Albert Lions to championships in the Bartercard Cup, and was then assistant coach for the Kiwis under Daniel Anderson.

In July 2007, Leeds Rhinos announced that New Zealand national coach Brian McClennan would be joining the club as Head Coach on a two-year contract from 1 December 2007.

Brian McClennan subsequently resigned as national coach, his position taken up by Gary Kemble in August 2007.

Brian McClennan coached Leeds to the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.

Brian McClennan resigned after 2010's Super League XV, returning to New Zealand and working for the Auckland Rugby League as their development and coaching manager.

In 2011, Brian McClennan was announced as the first coach of the Exiles, a team made up of Australian and New Zealand players contracted to Super League clubs.

On 1 August 2011, Brian McClennan was appointed Ivan Cleary's replacement as head coach of National Rugby League side, the New Zealand Warriors for the 2012 and 2013 seasons, as Cleary had signed on to coach the Penrith Panthers at the end of the 2011 season.