Andrew Strawbridge will leave his post as Waikato’s Director of Rugby to take up a new position as part of England Rugby’s coaching staff ahead of the England’s tour to Japan and New Zealand in July. 

Strawbridge has recently returned to New Zealand following a short stint as part of the England coaching staff for the opening round of the 2024 Guinness Six Nations. His initial role was to join England as a consultant coach, with England picking up on his expertise and experience and snapping him up on a full-time basis.

Strawbridge started his current coaching role at Waikato Rugby in 2018 coming in following the departure of Jono Gibbes after the team had earned promotion from the Championship back into the National Provincial Championship Premier Division. Leading the team in 2019, before handing over the head coaching role to current NPC coach Ross Filipo and taking up the Director of Rugby role.

In 2022, he joined fellow Waikato Centurion Ian Foster’s All Black coaching line-up as an assistant coach and remained in that position throughout the 2023 season, finishing up following the 2023 World Cup Final in Paris.

Carl Moon, Waikato Rugby’s CEO, says that “it is a shame to lose a man of the quality of Andrew, he is a great man to have in our staff, and has been instrumental in recent on-field success for our NPC & FPC sides. We wish him all the best in his new endeavours and look forward to following the England side over the next short while”.

Article added: Tuesday 09 April 2024