Dale McLeod Steps Up to Head Coach of Stags

Rugby Southland and its board of directors are pleased to announce Dale Macleod has accepted the role of Southland Stags Head Coach/Director Of Coaching.
He has been contracted for the 2020 and 2021 Mitre 10 Cup seasons, with an optional renewal in 2022.

The selection process was thorough, with the first round of interviews being conducted by a select panel. This panel included Rugby Southland General Manager Brian Hopley, former Southland player and coach Murray Brown, Rugby Southland board member and former High Performance Director for Snow Sports NZ Ashley Light and NZR World Rugby Consultant David Hadfield.

Following the first round of interviews, two final candidates presented to two panels, one panel consisting of former Southland Player and Coach David Henderson and NZR South Island Coach Development Manager Dave Perin, followed by a panel of four current senior players of the Southland Stags.

Dale was a standout applicant, with his involvement over the past two seasons as assistant coach proving to be an important asset for continuity and progression within the squad. Dale Macleod joined Rugby Southland in 2017, having previously coached Northland and the Blues Development side.

The 2019 Mitre 10 cup was a year of continued progression, the Stags were competitive for the most part, with the strong win over Counties Manukau proving that the Southland Stags are a force to watch in seasons to come.