Clark Laidlaw's Journey as a Celebrated Coach in New Zealand

Clark Laidlaw, the head coach of the Hurricanes, has spent the past three seasons leading the Super Rugby champions. A few weeks ago, he met with fellow Scots in New Zealand, including former Scotland captain Mike Blair, who was set to return to Murrayfield as attack coach for the All Blacks, Euan Mackintosh, the All Blacks' skills acquisition coach, and Adam Hay, New Zealand's performance scientist.

Laidlaw's Hurricanes team had a stellar season, dominating Super Rugby by finishing at the top of the table. After winning their knockout game 66-12 against the Brumbies, they triumphed over the Blues with a score of 57-21 in the semi-final, and ultimately defeated the Chiefs 60-5 in the final. With 18 years in New Zealand, Laidlaw has established himself significantly, although he remains less known in Scotland. He shared his experiences on the BBC's Scotland Rugby Podcast, discussing how he transitioned from a school-leaver at 16 to becoming a prominent coach, achieving Commonwealth Games gold, World Cup Sevens gold, and Olympic silver in Tokyo before claiming the Super Rugby title.

Eight of Laidlaw's Hurricanes players were included in Dave Rennie's touring squad. Despite now holding a New Zealand passport, Laidlaw affirmed his support for Scotland in their match against the All Blacks, expressing confidence in Scotland's ability to secure a victory. Reflecting on his journey, Laidlaw described his curious nature and desire to explore opportunities beyond his life in Scotland, where he had a good job at East Lothian Council and was coaching Jed-Forest. He noted that living in New Zealand has changed him not only as a rugby coach but also in his personal life, contributing to his growth in empathy and understanding.

Laidlaw had a brief stint at London Irish before returning to New Zealand, an experience that ultimately influenced his coaching career. He hinted at his ambitions for the future, acknowledging that there may be opportunities to discuss the head coaching position for the All Blacks post-World Cup, although his focus remains on the Hurricanes at present. He expressed admiration for Gregor Townsend's work as Scotland's coach and indicated that many coaches would be excited about the prospect of taking over from him.

In discussing his father, Roy Laidlaw, who has been living with dementia, Clark expressed pride in his father’s impact as a former Scottish rugby player and reflected on how the distance sometimes complicates family connections. He is grateful for the support from family and friends who regularly visit his father. Laidlaw's journey has been remarkable thus far, and he anticipates further adventures ahead.