Become an Auckland Rugby Member
Former Grammar Carlton Premier head coach Brandon Jackson has been appointed as the new head coach of the Auckland Colts for the 2010 representative season.
A talented footballer who represented Auckland as well as the New Zealand Schools, Colts and who was also an All Black trialist from 1991-1993, Jackson brings a wealth of coaching experience to the Auckland Colts after spending four years coaching professionally in Japan.
Jackson is also one of only a handful of coaches in Auckland to boast an IRB Level four coaching certificate, the highest rugby qualification available in New Zealand, as well as completing an NZRU / Massey University Coaching Practicum (graded A).
He overcame some fierce competition to be selected as head coach of the Auckland Colts and he said he was relishing the opportunity of returning to the Auckland fold after having been involved with the Auckland Under-18s from 2006-2008.
“I was extremely pleased to hear I’d been selected,” Jackson said.
“It’s a very prestigious team so it’s very pleasing but I’m also mindful of the great responsibility that goes with a team like that,” he said.
After his stint in Japan, Jackson said his move to coach at club level with Grammar Carlton proved invaluable to his progression as one of Auckland’s prominent rugby coaches.
“When I came back from coaching professionally in Japan in 2005, rather than do the usual thing that most people do which is try and climb in at the top, I thought it would be better two get involved with club rugby for two reasons,” he said.
“I wanted to get back to my club who I’d played for throughout the grades first and foremost, and secondly it was a good opportunity to develop my coaching ability at that level because I think it makes you a better coach rather than just diving straight into rep stuff.
“I think it’s a much harder environment to try and succeed in so it’s the reason I went into club coaching.”
Jackson will be joined by his Grammar Carlton counterpart Darryl Menzies who has taken on the role of assistant coach of the Auckland Colts.
An IRB Level three qualified coach, Menzies has coached at Premier level for five years as well as having previously taken the reigns of the Auckland Emerging Players representative team.
