Dan McKellar

Last updated

Dan McKellar
Date of birth (1976-07-17) 17 July 1976 (age 47)
Place of birth Brisbane, Queensland, Australia [1] [2]
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Weight112 kg (247 lb) [1]
School Townsville Grammar School
Height and weight correct as of 2006
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Amateur team(s)
YearsTeamApps(Points)
–1995 Burdekin Canetoads ()
1996–2006 Souths ()
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2001–2005 Wicklow ()
Super Rugby
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2006 Queensland Reds 0 (0)
Coaching career
YearsTeam
2008–2010 Souths
2011–2012 Tuggeranong Vikings
2013 NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes (Forwards coach)
2014–2018 Brumbies (Assistant coach)
2014 Canberra Vikings
2018–2022 Brumbies
2021–2023 Australia (Assistant coach)
2023– Leicester Tigers

Dan McKellar (born 17 July 1976) is an Australian professional rugby union coach. He currently works as head coach for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby. He was previously the head coach of Super Rugby team the Brumbies, head coach of the University of Canberra Vikings in Australia's National Rugby Championship, [3] and an assistant coach for the Australian national rugby union team.

Contents

Early life

McKellar grew up in Burdekin in North Queensland. He was introduced to rugby at Townsville Grammar School. He played first grade club rugby as a teenager, helping the Burdekin Canetoads win the Townsville premiership in 1994. [4]

Rugby career

As a loosehead prop, McKellar played more than 150 premier grade games over a decade at Souths Rugby Club in Brisbane, winning a premiership in 2000. He was a member of the Queensland Reds Super Rugby squad in 2005 and 2006. [4] [5] He also had stints playing overseas in Scotland and Ireland. [5] McKellar began learning the art of coaching at Wicklow, a small rugby club just outside Dublin in Ireland. He was playing in the team and acting as his side's assistant coach in 2001, and took over the main player-coach role from 2002 to 2005. [6] [7] [8]

Coaching career

McKellar was a premier grade assistant coach at Souths Rugby Club in Brisbane in 2007, [9] and the head coach from 2008 to 2010. [5] He was appointed as coaching director and head coach of the Tuggeranong Vikings Rugby Club in Canberra for seasons 2011 and 2012 which included back to back premierships in premier grade. He also set up the professional rugby academy at the Vikings Club. [5] In February 2013, McKellar moved to Japan to take up a position as forwards coach of Top League team NTT DoCoMo Red Hurricanes.

Returning to Canberra, he signed with the Brumbies as the club's defence and skills coach for the 2014 Super Rugby season. [5] After the launch of the National Rugby Championship, he was appointed as head coach of the University of Canberra Vikings team to play in the new competition. [3]

McKellar was appointed as head coach of the Brumbies for the 2018 season following Stephen Larkham's departure. [10]

In August 2021 it was announced McKellar would wind up a successful five-year stint as Brumbies head coach at the end of the 2022 Super Rugby season and would remain in his position with the Australia national team. [11] During his time as Brumbies head coach he led the side to the Super Rugby Semi-Final in 2019, and back-to-back Super Rugby AU Grand-Finals in 2020–21, famously taking out the 2020 title in front of a home crowd at GIO Stadium. [12]

After holding his role within the Australia national team since 2021, McKellar resigned from his job to join English Premiership team the Leicester Tigers, [13] effective from 1 July 2023. [14] [15]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACT Brumbies</span> Australian rugby union team

The ACT Brumbies is an Australian professional rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), The team competes in Super Rugby and named for the feral horses which inhabit the capital's hinterland. The team represents the ACT, as well as the Far South Coast and Southern Inland regions of New South Wales (NSW).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Larkham</span> Australian rugby union player and coach

Stephen Larkham is a retired Australian rugby union professional player, currently in the role of head coach for Brumbies. He spent his career with the Brumbies in Super Rugby, for whom he played from the inception of the professional Super 12 in 1996 through 2007. He is best known for his long tenure with the Wallabies at international level, for whom he played 102 times. After initial selection at fullback from 1996 to 1997, Larkham was the first-choice Australian fly-half from 1997 to 2007, playing in the 1999, 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cups. He is married to Jacqueline and has two children, Jaimee and Tiahna.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Sheens</span> Australian professional rugby league coach (born 1950)

Timothy Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Head Coach of the Australia national team between 2009 and 2015, he has also been the head coach of National Rugby League (NRL) clubs, the Penrith Panthers, the Canberra Raiders, the North Queensland Cowboys and the Wests Tigers. As a player, Sheens was a prop forward with Sydney's Penrith club in the 1970s and 1980s before he retired and became their coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Harrison</span> Rugby player

Justin Harrison, born 20 April 1974 in Sydney, is a former Australian international rugby union player, who played lock forward and is currently the head of the Australian Rugby Union Players Association (RUPA)

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uni-Norths Owls</span> Rugby team

The Uni-Norths Owls is a rugby union club located on the campus of the Australian National University (ANU) in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The club was a result of the merger of ANU and University of Canberra rugby clubs in 1998, with Northern Suburbs joining in 2001. The club's colours are navy, gold and green.

Laurie Fisher is an Australian professional rugby union coach. He is currently the forwards coach of Super Rugby team the Brumbies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Canberra Vikings</span> Rugby team

The Canberra Vikings, formerly the Canberra Kookaburras, is an Australian rugby union football team that competes in the National Rugby Championship (NRC). The team is based at Viking Park in Wanniassa, and is backed by the Tuggeranong Vikings Group as the licence holder, with the Brumbies and University of Canberra as non-financial partners.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patrick Phibbs</span> Australian rugby union player

Patrick Phibbs is an Australian Professional Rugby Union player currently based in Reading with London Irish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt To'omua</span> Rugby player

Matthew Papali'i To'omua is an Australian rugby union professional player who has played close to 60 times for Australia since 2013. He plays for the Mitsubishi Dynaboars in the Japanese League One and his usual position is at fly-half or inside centre. He has previously played for the Brumbies in Australia ,for Leicester Tigers in England's Premiership Rugby and for Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.

Dan Palmer is an Australian rugby union coach and retired professional player. He is currently the lineout coach for the Australia national team, and after the 2023 Rugby World Cup will join Leicester Tigers as scrum coach. He played for the New South Wales Waratahs and ACT Brumbies in Super Rugby, before a short stint with French club Grenoble. He also earned one cap for Australia in 2012. His usual position was tighthead prop.

Matt O'Connor is an Australian professional rugby union coach and a former international player. He was recently the head coach of the Leicester Tigers. O'Connor has held head coaching positions with the Queensland Reds ; at Irish province Leinster, where he won the Pro12 in 2013–14; and in a previous stint with Leicester, where he won the Premiership in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sam Carter (rugby union)</span> Australian rugby union player

Sam Carter is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays lock for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, England's top division. He formerly played for the Brumbies from 2011 to 2019, and won 16 caps for Australia between 2014 and 2017, before spending 2019–2023 playing for Ulster in the URC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jesse Mogg</span> Rugby player

Jesse Mogg is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the French Top 14 club Montpellier. His usual position is at full-back, though he can also play as a winger. Mogg previously played four seasons with the Brumbies in Super Rugby. He was capped for the Australian national team in 2013.

Lachlan Patrick McCaffrey is an Australian rugby union player for the Austin Gilgronis of Major League Rugby (MLR). His regular playing position is Number Eight.

Blake Enever is an Australian rugby union footballer who plays as a lock.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">ACT Veterans Rugby Club</span> Rugby team

The ACT Vets are a rugby union team based in Canberra, Australian Capital Territory (ACT), whose players must be 35 years of age or older. Portsea Oval, at the Royal Military College, Duntroon is the club's home ground.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Powell (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Joe Powell is an Australian rugby union scrum-half who is currently unattached. He most recently played for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby, the top tier of English rugby union. He previously played for London Irish, Canberra Vikings and the ACT Brumbies. He was a member of the Brumbies extended playing squad, making his first appearances for the franchise during the 2015 Super Rugby season.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Cusack</span> Australian rugby union player

Thomas Cusack is an Australian professional rugby union player who plays as a flanker for the Brumbies, as well as serving as vice-captain in Super Rugby. Additionally, he previously represented Australia in rugby sevens.

Ben Hyne is an Australian rugby union footballer who currently plays as a lock or loose forward for the Brumbies in the international Super Rugby competition. Domestically, he turns out for Canberra Vikings in the National Rugby Championship.

Guy Edward Porter is an English rugby union player who plays for Leicester Tigers in Premiership Rugby. His playing position is centre. He made his international debut for England on 9 July 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Blackwood, Nathan (23 February 2023). "Who is Dan McKellar: Ten things you need to know about Leicester Tigers' head coach". Rugby World .
  2. Doran, Christy (9 February 2023). "Exclusive: McKellar short listed for head coach role at major English club as Wallabies coaching plan takes twist". theroar.com.au.
  3. 1 2 Gaskin, Lee (24 March 2014). "Brumbies to dominate University of Canberra Vikings squad for new competition". The Canberra Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 24 March 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  4. 1 2 Stewart, Antony (21 November 2013). "A Burdekin Brumby". Townsville Bulletin. News. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Our Team". Next Gen Rugby. 2013. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. Perry, Antony (6 December 2013). "McKellar and the Brumbies a perfect match". Front Row Sports. Archived from the original on 23 June 2014. Retrieved 24 March 2014.
  7. "Wicklow Rugby Football Club". Irish Rugby. 2002. Archived from the original on 31 October 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  8. "Wicklow Rugby Football Club". Irish Rugby. 2005. Archived from the original on 11 October 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  9. "Annual Report 2007" (PDF 3.2 MB). Queensland Rugby. 2007. p. 32. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2 May 2014. Retrieved 6 May 2014.
  10. Dutton, Chris (17 June 2017). "Outgoing ACT Brumbies coach Stephen Larkham to give Dan McKellar space to make 'own team'". The Canberra Times. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 17 October 2017. Retrieved 17 October 2017.
  11. "Dan McKellar to hand over Brumbies reins at end of 2022". Canberra Weekly. Newstate Media. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  12. "Brumbies claim Super Rugby AU title with thrilling victory over Reds and losing to the Reds in the 2021 Grand Final". Canberra Weekly. Newstate Media. Retrieved 9 August 2021.
  13. Robinson, Georgina (22 February 2023). "'Huge loss': McKellar resignation plunges World Cup plans into chaos". The Sydney Morning Herald .
  14. "Dan McKellar to join Leicester Tigers". leicestertigers.com. Leicester Tigers. 22 February 2023.
  15. Blackwood, Nathan (22 February 2023). "Leicester Tigers appoint Dan McKellar as head coach". Rugby World.