Ben Herring facts for kids
Herring in 2009
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| Date of birth | 14 March 1980 | ||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 213 lb (97 kg) | ||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||
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Ben Herring was born on March 14, 1980. He is a professional rugby coach. Currently, he leads rugby at Newington College in Sydney, Australia. Before this, he was the head coach for Otago and Toyota Verblitz. Ben has also coached national teams like Canada and Japan. He also worked with two big rugby teams called "Super franchises."
Ben Herring's Coaching Journey
Coaching the Leicester Tigers (2009–2011)
Ben became an assistant coach for the Leicester Tigers rugby team. He coached them in over 60 games. During this time, the team won two big titles called the Premiership. They also reached the semifinals of the Heineken Cup.
Coaching in Japan (2011–2013)
After his time in England, Ben moved to Japan. He joined the NEC Green Rockets club as a coach. In his first year, the team finished third in the Top League. This was their best finish ever in the league.
Working with National Teams (2013–2015)
Ben then started coaching for Rugby Canada. He worked with both the 15-a-side and 7-a-side national teams. He helped the men's 7s team reach 6th in the world rankings. This was their highest ranking ever. He also coached the national women's 7s team, which was often ranked in the top 3 globally.
Return to New Zealand and Japan (2015–2018)
Ben moved back to New Zealand to be closer to his family. He became an assistant coach for the Otago team. He also worked as a specialist coach for the Highlanders. Later, he became an assistant coach for the Japanese national team. He also helped coach the Sunwolves, a new Japanese team in the Super Rugby league.
Leading the Otago Team (2018–2019)
With his family growing, Ben returned to New Zealand again. He was appointed the head coach of the Otago team. In 2018, Otago won the Ranfurly shield, which is New Zealand's oldest rugby trophy. The Otago team also reached the Championship final that year.
New Role in Sydney (2024)
On July 12, 2024, it was announced that Ben Herring would start a new job. He became the director of rugby at Newington College in Sydney, Australia. This is a private school that is part of the AAGPS.
Ben Herring's Playing Career
Ben Herring played rugby professionally from 2001 to 2009. He played in both New Zealand and England. He had to stop playing early because of concussions. Ben was known as a reliable "openside flanker." This position often involves winning the ball back from the other team.
Starting in New Zealand
Ben started his senior rugby career in Dunedin, New Zealand. He moved there to study at the University of Otago. He played for the Alhambra-Union club. He was named Otago club player of the year for his first two seasons. He played fifty games for the club.
Playing for Southland
After his club success, Ben signed with Southland Stags. In his first season, he was named Southland player of the year. He scored two memorable tries from kick-offs. One was an intercept run, and the other was a 60-meter run against Canterbury. This good form helped him get a contract with the Highlanders team in 2002. By the end of 2003, he had scored seven tries in 22 games for Southland.
Time with the Hurricanes and Wellington Lions
In 2004, Ben moved to the Hurricanes and Vodafone Wellington Lions. He often played alongside famous players like Jerry Collins and Rodney So’oialo. He had some great moments, including playing against the British and Irish Lions. He also played in NPC final games.
Playing for Leicester Tigers
In 2007, Ben signed a contract with the Leicester Tigers in England. He was named Leicester Tigers newcomer of the year in 2008. He played in 30 Premiership and Heineken Cup games. However, in January 2009, he suffered several concussions. These injuries sadly led to his early retirement from all rugby.
