Vern Cotter

Vern Cotter

Full name	Anthony Vernon Cotter
Date of birth	(1962-01-27) 27 January 1962
Place of birth	New Zealand
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight	97 kg (214 lb)
Notable relative(s)	Jeremy Cotter (brother)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	No. 8
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1980–1990 1990–1994 1994–1996 1996–1997 1997–1998 1998–1999	Counties Manukau Rumilly FC Lourdes Saint-Junien FC Lourdes U.S. Castelnau-Madiran
Coaching career
Years	Club / team
2000–2004 2004–2006 2006–2014 2014–2017 2017–	Bay of Plenty Crusaders (Forwards coach) Clermont Auvergne Scotland Montpellier
correct as of 28 September 2016.

Anthony Vernon 'Vern' Cotter (born 27 January 1962) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player, who is currently the head coach of the Scottish national team. He was formally part of the coaching set-up for the successful Crusaders side between 2004 and 2006, before getting an 8 year stint in France with Clermont Auvergne. In June 2017, he will return to France, becoming the head coach of Montpellier,^[1] haven been told the Scottish Rugby Union will not renew his contract after it expires after the 2017 Six Nations Championship. In August 2016 it was announced that Gregor Townsend will replace Cotter as Scotland head coach in June 2017.^[2]

Career

Vern Cotter spent 10 years playing for Counties Manukau in New Zealand before representing a number of clubs in France. In 1999, he returned to New Zealand and took on the role of head coach of Bay of Plenty in the National Provincial Championship. During his first year in charge, he led the side to the Second Division championship of the North Island, but did not progress in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

During the 2004 Super 12 season, Cotter was made forwards coach of the Crusaders, when the side finished runners-up to the ACT Brumbies. He continued in his post as forwards coach through the 2005 season when the Crusaders won the competition, and the side retained their title in the 2006 season. 2014 became head coach of Scotland leading them to one of their most successful world cup campaigns in 2015. In August 2016 it was announced that Gregor Townsend would replace Vern Cotter as Scotland head coach in June 2017 when his contract expires.^[3]

Clermont

Top 14

In 2006, Cotter was made Head Coach of ASM Clermont Auvergne for the 2006–07 Top 14 season when Clermont finished runners-up behind Stade Français. The following year, Cotter coached the side to 20 out of 26 victories in the pool stages, finishing first in the table before the knock-out stage. However, Clermont finished second overall, losing to Toulouse in the Grand Final. For the third successive year under Cotter, Clermont finished second in the 2008–09 Top 14 season, but did win their first title in 2009–10 after beating Perpignan in the final. In the 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons Clermont were knocked out in the semi-finals. However, in Cotters final season in charge of Clermont, Clermont were knocked out in the quarter-finals, losing at home 22–16 to defending champions Castres. This loss was also Clermont's first loss at home in 77 matches, which dates back to the 16–13 loss to Biarritz in Round 13 of the 2009–10 Top 14 season.

Europe

During his first year as head coach of Clermont, Cotter was able to lead the side into the Heineken Cup, after winning all their matches in the 2006–07 European Challenge Cup. Clermont were unable to advance out of the group stages between 2007 and 2009. During the 2009–10 Heineken Cup, Clermont entered the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time, but lost to Leinster in the quarter-finals. In the 2012-13 season, Cotter led the side to the Heineken Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium, but lost 16-15 to Toulon. During the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, Clermont finished in seed 2 after the pool stage, winning five from six matches (lost against Racing Métro, won against Harlequins home and away, Scarlets home and away, and Racing Métro at home). Cotter led Clermont to their third consecutive quarter-final, beating Leicester Tigers 22–16. However, their third consecutive semi-final ended with a record losing margin of 46–6 to Saracens at Twickenham.

Scotland

Cotter departed Clermont in May 2014, to take on the role of head coach of Scotland.^[4] He was named the coach in May 2013, but as Clermont and the SRU failed to agree to release Cotter a year earlier, Cotter remained with Clermont until the end of his contract or until Clermont was knocked out of theirs respective tournaments. Cotters first challenge as Scotland's head coach, was a 4-match tour across three continents over four consecutive weeks. In Cotters first match in charge, he led the team to a 24–6 win over the United States in Houston. A week later, a 19–17 win over Canada in Toronto. Cotter first major match in charge was a Friday night fixture against Argentina in Córdoba. Heading into this match, Scotland had won three connective matches against the Pumas on Argentine soil. This streak was extended following a 21–19 win over Argentina. A week later, Cotter faced his toughest challenge, an away match to the Springboks outside the International Window. This meant, Cotter could only select players that played for either Glasgow Warriors or Edinburgh. The weakened team lost 55–6 in Port Elizabeth, the biggest losing margin to South Africa on South African soil.

In Cotters first ever home match at Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland won convincingly 41–31 scoring five tries against Argentina. It was the most tries they had scored against a Tier 1 nation since they scored five tries against Ireland in 2007. It was believed much of the team were based around the success of Scottish club side Glasgow Warriors, with 10 of the starting XV from the Glasgow side, with a further four players on the bench. The following fixture was a narrow 16–24 loss to New Zealand. For much of that match, Scotland had been in touching distance of a first ever victory over the All Blacks, but a late try during the 73rd minute secured the win for the No. 1 ranked side. Scotland's final fixture was against Tonga at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock. The match was the first ever match to be played on a fully artificial pitch by a Tier 1 nation approved by World Rugby. For Scotland, they won convincingly 37–12, gaining revenge following their first ever loss to Tonga in 2012.

During the 2015 Six Nations Championship, Scotland finished last place with no wins in their campaign. Most of their losses were narrow defeats, including a home loss to Italy for the first time since 2007. Though, during Scotland's Rugby World Cup warm-ups, Scotland gained revenge with a record win 48–7. Before Scotland's warm-up matches began, Cotter extended his contract with the SRU until 2017.^[5] During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Scotland progressed from the pool stage with wins against Japan, 45–10, the United States, 39–16, and Samoa, 36–33, losing only to South Africa, 34–16. In the knock out stage they faced a highly fancied Australia team. With six minutes to go Scotland scored a try to lead against all expectations by 34–32. However, with a minute to go Australia kicked a highly controversial and disputed penalty to win the game 35–34 and end Scotland's participation in the tournament.

During the 2016 Six Nations Championship, Cotter led Scotland to their first victory over France since 2006, when the defeated the French 29–18. Scotland went on to finish 4th in the Championship, with a second win against Italy 36–20, but narrow loses to England 15–9, Wales 27–23 and Ireland 35–25 meant Scotland only finished with two wins. In June 2016, Cotter led the Scotland to a 26–13 and 21–16 win over Japan to win their test series with the Brave Blossoms 2–0, winning their first test series since 2010.

In August 2016 it was announced that the Scottish Rugby Union would not be renewing Cotter's contract. The SRU Chief Executive, Mark Dodson said that "Vern Cotter has made a considerable impact on the development of the Scotland national side during his tenure. His rugby philosophy of setting high standards with a big emphasis on skill development has had a positive effect throughout Scottish rugby" and that he would continue as head coach until June 2017 after which Gregor Townsend would take over the position. ^[6]

International Matches as Head Coach

Record by country

Opponent	Played	Won	Drew	Lost	Win ratio (%)	For	Against
Argentina	2	2	0	0	100.00%	62	50
Australia	1	0	0	1	0.00%	34	35
Canada	1	1	0	0	100.00%	19	17
England	2	0	0	2	0.00%	22	40
France	3	1	0	2	33.33%	53	52
Ireland	3	0	0	3	0.00%	57	103
Italy	4	3	0	1	75.00%	119	61
Japan	3	3	0	0	100.00%	92	39
New Zealand	1	0	0	1	0.00%	16	24
South Africa	2	0	0	2	0.00%	22	89
Samoa	1	1	0	0	100.00%	36	33
Tonga	1	1	0	0	100.00%	37	12
Wales	2	0	0	2	0.00%	46	53
United States	2	2	0	0	100.00%	63	22
TOTAL	28	14	0	14	50.00%	678	630

Honours

• Douglas Horn Trophy
  • Winners: 2014

Return to France

On 28 September 2016, it was announced that Cotter will become head coach of Montpellier, replacing Jake White.^[7]

Club honours

Clermont

• Top 14
  • Winners: 2009–10
  • Runners-up: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09
• Heineken Cup
  • Runners-up: 2012–13
• European Challenge Cup
  • Winners: 2006–07

Crusaders

• Super Rugby
  • Winners: 2005, 2006
  • Runners-up: 2004

References

External links

• ESPN Scrum profile
• Scottish Rugby Union profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by Scott Johnson (Interim)	Scottish national rugby coach 2014–2017	Succeeded by Gregor Townsend

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