Clark Laidlaw
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image = 059A7416-2.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|07|16|df=y}}
| birth_place = Scotland
| repsevensyears1 = 2001–2007
| repsevensteam1 = {{nrut7|Scotland}}
| repsevenscomp1 = 93
| coachyears1 = 2024-present
| coachyears2 = 2017–2023
| coachyears3 = 2015–2016
| coachyears4 = 2013–2015
| coachteams1 = Hurricanes (head coach)
| coachteams2 = New Zealand 7s (head coach)
| coachteams3 = London Irish (assistant coach)
| coachteams4 = Hurricanes (assistant coach)
}}
Clark Laidlaw (born 16 July 1977) is a Scottish professional rugby union coach and former player. He is currently the head coach of the Hurricanes. Laidlaw was formerly the All Blacks Sevens Head Coach before stepping down in 2023.{{Cite web|last=Strang|first=Ben|date=2017-01-21|title=New NZ Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw says he's a Kiwi when it comes to rugby|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/sevens/88481458/new-nz-sevens-coach-clark-laidlaw-says-hes-a-kiwi-when-it-comes-to-rugby|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Stuff |language=en}}{{Cite web|date=21 January 2020|title=Laidlaw talks sevens, New Zealand and Scotland|url=http://www.scottishrugby.org/fanzone/laidlaw-talks-sevens,-new-zealand-and-scotland|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Scottish Rugby Union|language=en}}{{Cite web|date=2016-11-16|title=Clark Laidlaw to become New Zealand Sevens Head Coach|url=https://www.london-irish.com/news/clark-laidlaw-to-become-new-zealand-sevens-head-coach/bp1106/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=London Irish|language=en}}{{Cite web|last=|date=2016-11-17|title=Clark Laidlaw appointed Head Coach of All Blacks Sevens|url=https://rugbyheartland.co.nz/wp/2016/11/17/clark-laidlaw-appointed-head-coach-of-all-blacks-sevens/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=RUGBY HEARTLAND|language=en-US}}{{cite web|date=2023-05-31|title=Rugby: Incoming Hurricanes coach Clark Laidlaw open to helping All Blacks Sevens in Olympics build-up|url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/05/rugby-incoming-hurricanes-coach-clark-laidlaw-open-to-helping-all-blacks-sevens-in-olympics-build-up.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215023509/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/sport/2023/05/rugby-incoming-hurricanes-coach-clark-laidlaw-open-to-helping-all-blacks-sevens-in-olympics-build-up.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 February 2024|accessdate=2024-02-15|website=Newshub |language=en-US}}
Biography
Laidlaw is the son of former British & Irish Lions and Scotland international rugby union player Roy Laidlaw. His cousin, Greig Laidlaw, also represented the British & Irish Lions and Scotland.{{Cite web|date=12 December 2017|title=Clark Laidlaw in sevens heaven with All Blacks|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/clark-laidlaw-sevens-heaven-all-blacks-1435338|access-date=2022-02-13|website=www.scotsman.com|language=en}} He represented Scotland internationally in sevens and moved to New Zealand in 2008.
Coaching Career
Laidlaw became the Skills Coach for Taranaki in 2010 then became the Skills Coach and Video Analyst with the New Zealand sevens team under Sir Gordon Tietjens from 2010 to 2012. He made the move back to the 15-aside game, as the Assistant Coach of the Hurricanes from 2013 to 2015. He was also Assistant Coach of the London Irish.{{Cite web|date=2015-03-03|title=Laidlaw to join London Irish|url=https://www.hurricanes.co.nz/news/article/laidlaw-to-join-london-irish/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=Hurricanes|language=en}}{{Cite news|date=3 March 2015|title=Doorey and Laidlaw join London Irish|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/31709943|access-date=2022-02-13}}
In 2018, a year after becoming Head Coach of the All Blacks Sevens, New Zealand won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.{{Cite web|last=Jones|first=Christopher|date=2020-01-23|title=NZ coach Laidlaw: No second chances at Hamilton World Sevens|url=https://www.espn.com/rugby/story/_/id/28524155/new-zealand-coach-clark-laidlaw-no-second-chances-hamilton-world-sevens|access-date=2022-02-13|website=ESPN.com|language=en}}
In 2020, Laidlaw guided the All Blacks Sevens to win the World Rugby Sevens Series and in 2021, a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.{{Cite web|last=Shannon|first=Kris|date=28 July 2021|title=Silver for NZ: Fantastic Fiji too good for All Blacks Sevens in final|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/tokyo-olympics-2020-all-blacks-sevens-lose-to-fantastic-fiji-in-mens-sevens-gold-medal-match/G4P2EE5P4QSXDDQUJZUHX6AVPE/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=The New Zealand Herald |language=en-NZ}}{{Cite web|date=2021-07-28|title=Tokyo Olympics rugby sevens: Fiji claim gold, as NZ settle for silver|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/447933/tokyo-olympics-rugby-sevens-fiji-claim-gold-as-nz-settle-for-silver|access-date=2022-02-13|website=RNZ |language=en-nz}}
In 2023 it was announced that Laidlaw would be stepping down as the All Blacks Sevens head coach and joining the Hurricanes as head coach from 2024.
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Hurricanes squad}}
{{New Zealand Men's 2020 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Laidlaw, Clark}}
Category:Scotland international rugby sevens players
Category:Scottish rugby union players
Category:Scottish rugby union coaches
Category:Olympic coaches for New Zealand
Category:New Zealand national rugby sevens team coaches
Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
Category:Commonwealth Games rugby sevens players for Scotland
Category:Scottish expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand
Category:Expatriate rugby union coaches