Taranaki Rugby has announced the coaching team which will be joining Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Head Coach Neil Barnes for the 2021 NPC season.

Former Scotland Sevens representative Johnny Weston and former All Black Jarrad Hoeata will be Assistant Coaches.

Weston is Taranaki born and bred, having grown up on farms at Whangamomona and Toko before becoming a boarder at New Plymouth Boys' High School.

A former Physical Education teacher who is now chicken farming Weston has been coaching in the Taranaki community since 2002. Weston has been the Head Coach of the CMK Taranaki Men's Sevens team and prior to that was involved with the NPBHS 1ST XV and the Spotswood United Premier team.

Weston was looking forward to helping grow the Taranaki Rugby legacy and working with the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls management team.

"The previous coaching group have done an excellent job of developing many players. I am hoping to continue to grow these players as well as others both on and off the rugby field. I look forward to the challenge of juggling farming and preparing for the 2021 campaign before I go full time when the competition gets underway."

Hoeata joined the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls as their Assistant Coach in 2020 and has played 82 matches for the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls. A vastly experienced player who has represented the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks, and All Blacks Sevens teams and playing professionally in the United Kingdom and France. Jarrad is also a New Zealand Under 20 selector and a forwards coach for the Chiefs Under 20 team.

"I'm lucky enough to have played in a number of high-performance environments both in New Zealand and overseas, and I'm looking forward to passing on that knowledge to our group.  I'm looking forward to working with Barnsey, who has been a great mentor for me over the years."

Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Head Coach Neil Barnes said he was happy to have finalised his coaches.

"I'm pleased to have Jarrad and Johnny join the coaching group to lead the Amber and Blacks in 2021. There is an abundance of experience among these men, and I trust this will provide us with a solid platform."

"It is great to have Johnny in the fold this season; his technical knowledge of the game is very strong. Johnny already has strong relationships with our contracted players, and I know he is going to make a positive impact in our environment."

Taranaki Rugby Chief Executive Officer Laurence Corlett said it was fantastic to lock in a strong coaching group for the upcoming season.

"We are thrilled to have Johnny and Jarrad assisting Neil at the helm. We're really looking forward to welcoming Johnny and his family to our environment."

Corlett confirmed that former Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Assistant Coaches Tim Stuck (North) and Ra Mako (South) have been appointed as 'Selectors' and will support the coaching group in canvassing CMK club rugby performances. New Plymouth Physiotherapy will be the Yarrows Taranaki Bulls physiotherapy provider in 2021.

2021 Yarrows Taranaki Bulls Coaching Management:
Head Coach: Neil Barnes
Assistant Coach: Johnny Weston
Assistant Coach: Jarrad Hoeata

Article added: Friday 12 March 2021