Derren Witcombe

{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2014}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=June 2014}}

{{infobox rugby biography

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1978|10|30}}

| birth_place = Hobart, Australia

| height = {{convert|1.85|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|108|kg|lbs|abbr=on}}

| ru_position = Hooker

| amatteam1 = Hora Hora

| amatyears1 =

| provinceyears1 = 2001–02

| provinceyears2 = 2003–06

| province1 = Northland

| province2 = Auckland

| provinceapps1 = 20

| provinceapps2 = 30

| provincepoints1 =

| superyears1 = 2002–07

| super1 = Blues

| superapps1 = 53

| superpoints1 = 15

| repyears1 = 2005

| repyears2 = 2007

| repteam1 = New Zealand

| repteam2 = Junior All Blacks

| repcaps1 = 5

| reppoints1 = 0

| coachyears1 = 2013–14, 17–

| coachyears2 = 2015–16

| coachteams1 = Northland

| coachteams2 = Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars

| birth_name = Derren John Charles Witcombe

}}

Derren John Charles Witcombe (born 30 October 1978) is an Australian-born New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. As a player, he played at hooker. He was educated at Pompallier Catholic College.

He played for the All Blacks in 2005 and at Super Rugby level for the Blues between 2002 and 2007. Winning the Super 12 title with them in 2003. He represented Northland and then Auckland at provincial level.

Witcombe retired from playing in 2007 due to a neck injury.{{cite web| url = http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/Profile.asp?ABID=1054 | title = Derren Witcombe | accessdate = 31 August 2015 | publisher = New Zealand Rugby Union | work = allblacks.com | last = Luxford | first= Bob}}{{cite web | url = http://www.theblues.co.nz/Players/94-Derren-Witcombe.aspx | title = Derren Witcombe | publisher = theblues.co.nz | accessdate = 31 August 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151017233301/http://www.theblues.co.nz/Players/94-Derren-Witcombe.aspx | archive-date = 17 October 2015 | url-status = dead }} He took up coaching and was appointed head coach of Northland in the 2013 and 2014 National Provincial Championships. He departed suddenly in early 2015 to take up a position at Japanese club Mitsubishi Sagamihara DynaBoars.{{cite news| url = http://www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11401709 | title = Shock exit stuns Taniwha | last = Thorley | first = Peter | date = 14 February 2015 | publisher = stuff.co.nz | work = The Northern Advocate| accessdate = 31 August 2015}}

In February 2017, Witcombe signed a contract to return to the Northland province as head coach for the 2017 Mitre 10 Cup.{{Cite web|url=http://m.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503448&objectid=11792664|title=Rugby: Witcombe returns as Northland coach|website=m.nzherald.co.nz|access-date=3 June 2017}}

Witcombe grew up on a dry stock farm in Taupo Bay before attending high school in Whangarei, where he pursued both Rugby and Cricket.{{Cite web|last=Paul|first=Gregor|date=26 June 2005|title=Derren never gave up on dream|url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/derren-never-gave-up-on-dream/SDRCQP5MBMKXKBN3TQ6FFD3UZ4/|access-date=9 April 2021|website=NZ Herald}} He played Cricket for the Northland province as a wicket keeper/batsman.{{Cite web|url=http://www.allblacks.com/Player/AllBlacks?id=546|title=Derren Witcombe {{!}} allblacks.com|website=All Blacks|language=en|access-date=2017-12-20}}

He went on to work in forestry for four years, playing both Rugby and Cricket at club level, making his debut for Northland in 2001.