Gary Kemble has both played and coached the New Zealand national rugby league team.
14 Facts About Gary Kemble
1.
2.
Gary Kemble is the current head coach of the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League.
3.
An Ellerslie club member, Kemble debuted for Auckland in 1976, aged only 19.
4.
Gary Kemble then played rugby league at a senior level throughout the 1970s and 1980s, playing for the Papakura club.
5.
Gary Kemble initially played for Hull alongside his future Kiwi assistant coach James Leuluai, and New Zealand Captain Dane O'Hara and they were later joined by another New Zealand Captain in Fred Ah Kuoi.
6.
Gary Kemble coached the Northcote Tigers in 1993 before being appointed the coach of the Hawkes Bay Unicorns in the new Lion Red Cup.
7.
Gary Kemble's test coaching career got off to the worst possible start both on and off the field.
8.
Intense criticism followed the 2nd Test loss, some of it directed at the players, some of it toward the management of the NZRL, however Gary Kemble copped severe criticism from some quarters with one commentator suggesting that Gary Kemble "must be sacked at the series-end" and describing him as a "captain of calamity".
9.
Gary Kemble was forthright in expressing his desire to remain Kiwi coach following the loss with the general feeling being that the loss was "close enough" for him to retain the position.
10.
Captain Roy Asotasi along with fellow Kiwi teammate David Kidwell had earlier expressed their concern publicly at the lack of respect they and other senior players held for the coach due to his inexperience at that level and deemed the 2008 World Cup already a failure if Gary Kemble didn't receive some kind of help.
11.
Gary Kemble is the current head coach of the Papakura Sea Eagles in the Auckland Rugby League.
12.
Gary Kemble is the manager of the Horsham Downs Golf Club in Hamilton.
13.
Gary Kemble is married to Stephanie and they have four sons.
14.
Gary Kemble played his club cricket as a Wicket-keeper for Papakura, and was part of the Northern Districts Under-23 cricket team that won the national title.