Auckland Blues coach Vern Cotter will be the new Queensland Reds Super Rugby head coach for two years from 2027.
Queensland Rugby says the Kiwi replaces Les Kiss who will become Wallabies head coach later this season; Kiss replaces Kiwi Joe Schmidt, who just confirmed he will not be open to applying for the vacant All Blacks role.
Cotter, 64, said he was impressed with how the recruitment process had been run.
“In professional sport, you don’t want to be walking into a vague organisation. The Queensland Rugby Union has shown it has some really smart people in the business; they are organised and they have a vision,” he says.
“Every time I’ve taken a role in sport, it’s been about the people. I’ve had a connection with Sam Cordingley (Reds General Manager, High Performance) since my days at Clermont in France.”
He says he was “chuffed and proud” when he was approached about the position.
“I did my homework … there is scope for the Reds to keep growing.”
QRU Chief Executive David Hanham says Cotter is the ideal man for the position.
“What stood out immediately to us was Vern’s character and how strongly he aligns with the values that define us as an organisation,” he says.
“His record of sustained success speaks for itself but just as compelling is the positive impact he has on people, teams and the environments he leads. That influence is unmistakable.”
BLUES BOSS REACTS
Blues head coach Karl Budge says Cotter’s decision ahead of the season provides clarity for all parties.
“Both Vern and the club felt it was the right thing to be open and clear before the season begins,” he says.
“We hugely appreciate everything Vern has done and continues to do for the club. He has delivered exactly what he was brought in to do.”
Cotter joined the Blues in 2024 on a three-year deal and led the team to the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific title.
“Vern is 100% focused on the job at hand,” Budge says.
“He is deeply invested in this playing group and this organisation, and that does not change.”
Cotter says he remains grateful to the Blues and to NZ Rugby.
“When I arrived, I was brought in to help create a winning culture. Over the past few years, we’ve had a lot of mature, honest conversations about where the club was and where it needed to go,” Cotter says.
“The landscape has changed significantly since I came in, and it genuinely feels like the club is well set up for its next phase of evolution.
Cotter was clear his commitment to the Blues in 2026 remains absolute.
“People should expect my full commitment to the Blues this season,” he said.
“I’m 100 percent locked in for this season. My focus is on this group, this campaign, and making sure we finish strong. Other clubs should be watching closely.”
Cordingley said the quality of coaches who were beaten to the role reflected strongly on Cotter’s credentials.
“Our criteria was clear – we wanted a coach with a history of title success capable of building on the strong high-performance environment Les created at the Reds,” he said.
“Vern brings a rare combination of international experience and title success in both the northern and southern hemispheres.”
Reds Head Coach Les Kiss says he “looks forward” to ensuring the transition to Vern is a good one.
ABOUT COTTER
Born in Devonport, Auckland, Cotter has played as a forward for Bay of Plenty and Counties Manukau in the 1980s before he headed to Italy and France.
His professional coaching career in NZ began as Bay of Plenty head coach in 2002 in their premier National Provincial Competition.
He delivered the Bay their first and only Ranfurly Shield (challenge cup) win in 2004.
He joined the Crusaders as forwards coach in 2004 as they won back-to-back Super Rugby titles in 2005-06.
He then spent eight-seasons with Clermont-Auvergne in France and gave then a Top 14 trophy in 2009-10, a Heineken Cup final appearance in Dublin in 2012-13 and multiple visits to the French finals.
For Scotland, he produced their best winning rate of 53% (19 wins from 36 Tests) of any of their coaches.
After coaching Fiji, Cotter returned to New Zealand to coach the Blues in 2024 to their first title win in 21 years. Source: www.rugbyaustralia.com
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