New Zealand Rugby has appointed a familiar face with experience of the All Blacks structures to oversee and support new head coach Dave Rennie.
Don Tricker will join NZR as its new high-performance director, with Rennie reporting directly to him.
Currently vice-president of player health and performance at the San Diego Padres baseball team in the US, Tricker will assume the role full-time in November.
The new position will see Tricker manage New Zealand rugby’s entire high-performance system, including player pathways, coach development and the national teams.
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“Don brings a track record of delivering success across elite high-performance environments, and we look forward to the impact he will make,” NZR interim CEO Steve Lancaster said .
“Don is highly respected and has a deep understanding of elite coaching, player development and New Zealand rugby.”
A former player and coach of the New Zealand softball team, Tricker has an extensive record in high-performance environments.
He previously contributed to NZR’s 2007 Rugby World Cup review, and was also part of the 2025 All Blacks review panel that ended with the departure of Scott Robertson.
“I’m excited to return to New Zealand and to be involved with New Zealand Rugby,” said Tricker. “Put simply, my role is about creating a system that develops players that our national teams want to select.”
Photo: Getty Images
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