Former All Black joins Wallabies coaching ranks
Donnelly replaces outgoing assistant coach Geoff Parling, who will return to the UK after next week's third and final Test against the British & Irish Lions.
He played 15 Tests for the All Blacks, close to 100 Super Rugby matches, and three seasons in France before he moved into coaching.
The 43-year-old was with the Western Force for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season and was previously an assistant coach at the Highlanders.
Donnelly said he was honoured to have the opportunity to contribute to the Australian national side.
ADVERTISEMENT
"Watching from afar, the journey the team is on and the improvement they are making is exciting. I'm looking forward to rolling up my sleeves and doing my part to continue the ongoing growth of the team."
Rugby Australia high performance director Peter Horne said Donnelly's expertise around the lineout and set piece would be "highly valuable" for the Wallabies.
"He's got a great understanding of the current Super Rugby Pacific landscape as well as experience playing at the highest level which makes him a great fit for the role."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Otago Daily Times
an hour ago
- Otago Daily Times
Queenstowner claims Wyndham Rally win
Queenstown-based driver Caleb Macdonald and his Australian co-driver Larisa Biggar powered home in their Mitsubishi EVO 6 to win the 2025 Barry Robinson Memorial Wyndham Rally in difficult conditions on Saturday. It was a special day for Macdonald as he notched up his first outright rally victory. Macdonald won the opening stage before Tim Smith, of Christchurch, took the lead in his Subaru Impreza H6 after winning the second. Smith retained the lead after Stage 3 which was the first of three in a row won by James Worker, of Mossburn, in his EVO 6. However, Worker was pushing hard to overcome a time deficit after problems early on, so Macdonald reclaimed the overall lead after finishing third in Stage 3 and second in Stage 4. He took the final Special Stage from Worker to claim the overall rally victory by 39.5 seconds from the impressive Tim Smith/Ben Trevelyan with Worker/Campbell Tannock third, just 3.5 seconds behind Smith. Smith was awarded the Class H win after his performance. Top seed Andrew Graves went out early after finishing fourth in the opening stage with a fogging windscreen and he was off the road and out of the event in Stage 2. "I was a bit frustrated and pushing hard after Stage 1. "We are OK and it is a minor fix, just a shame for my sponsors, family and friends that we were out early on." Second seed, Robbie Stokes, of Canterbury, was fifth going into the final stage but a puncture plummeted him down the order. Carter Strang, of Wallacetown, finished fourth overall and won Class D with David Clearwater, of Christchurch, followed by Deane Buist, of Christchurch, who was sixth as well as the first two-wheel-drive car home and the winner of Class C. Derek Ayson, of Gore, was seventh taking out Class G in his Opel Manta while Josh Keighley, of Christchurch, in a Subaru H6 was eighth. Jeff Judd in another H6 Subaru and his son Taylor Judd (Toyota Corolla) rounded out the top ten. Other class winners were Paul Preston, of Te Anau, who won Class E after finishing 12th and Ian Warren, of Dunedin, who took 15th place to win Class B. Warren also claimed the Glen Shirlaw Memorial Trophy for the first Otago Sports Car Club driver home. Paul Cross, of Gore, who finished 18th overall won Class F and Josh Silcock of Rangiora took out Class A in 27th place. Macdonald said winning the event, "was a very special moment. To win the Barry Robinson Memorial Trophy on the occasion of the Eastern Southland Car Club's 50th Anniversary with family watching was very special". Macdonald has ties to the area, having previously come from Gore. He also thanked co-driver Larisa, the club and his service crew. "We struggled early, there was torrential rain in Stage 1 and we pirouetted down the road backwards at 120kmh in Stage 2. I gave myself a stern talking to after that!" Anna Robinson won the Barry Robinson Memorial Challenge Trophy for the first Central Otago Motorsport Club member home in 26th place as co-driver to Chris Lange in a Ford Escort MK2. Robinson is a daughter of the late Barry Robinson after whom the trophy was named. Stage 2 also claimed Craig Abernethy, of Gore, with mechanical troubles and both Tony Aimers, of Wellington, and Harri Silcock, of Rangiora, with broken axles. In Stage 3. Australian Richard Galley went off the road and out of the rally, while Rhys Dunsmuire, of Christchurch, retired with overheating. Winton's Steve Gill went out with mechanical troubles one stage later. Brody Cattermole, of Temuka, had mechanical problems in Stage 1 and rejoined only to fall afoul of more problems and retire in Stage 6. Cattermole won the Zestino Tyres NZ Special Award as it was his first rally. Lauren Mackersy, of Dunedin, won the Gore Flooring Xtra Colourplus Novice Driver Challenge while Anton Montgomerie, Paul Garlick and Konrad Ward took the novice co-driver awards. Craig Jessop, clerk of the course for the event, said his team would have preferred sunshine but "you have to play the hand you are dealt. The marshalls and set-up crews did a fantastic job in atrocious conditions. Every stage went on time. "The competitors loved the stages and the new combination of roads." By Lindsay Beer
NZ Herald
15 hours ago
- NZ Herald
All Blacks rookie Kyle Preston earns Rugby Championship call-up after career year
'It's a funny one. Obviously, when the news came out about Cam [Roigard], I had about 20 or so messages like 'have you heard anything?' Preston told Newstalk ZB. 'You kind of start thinking a little bit, 'it could be me, who knows?' But I try to not build myself up too much around that sort of stuff, because you can get hyped up around it and, if you don't hear anything, it's a bit of a letdown.' Preston said he got the call from All Blacks coach Scott Robertson about an hour before the Rugby Championship squad was announced on Monday. At the surface, it's been a rapid rise for the 25-year-old who, a year or so ago, was playing club rugby and working as a roofer. He completed his roofing apprenticeship just prior to the 2024 NPC season; the timing working out nicely as he played his way into a Crusaders contract and fulltime work as a rugby player. But, for Preston, it's the culmination of a decade of dedication. 'It's funny because, like, only really over the last couple of years, you get the recognition for what I've done, but it's been built over 10 or so years of putting in a bit of hard work and dedication. It's awesome to finally get a bit of props for what I've been doing,' he said. 'It's been a long journey. The last 12 months has been pretty full on. I'm super lucky and grateful to get the opportunity that I've gotten and making the most of it while I'm here. I just want to continue to do that and hopefully I can do that in the black jersey.' He was one of four uncapped players called in, alongside Chiefs duo Simon Parker and Leroy Carter, and Hurricanes prop Tevita Mafileo. Parker was called into the main 36-man squad, with Carter and Mafileo joining Preston among the six players named as injury cover. Injured quintet Hotham, Roigard, Tyrel Lomax, Luke Jacobson and Caleb Clarke will all remain in New Zealand when the side travels to Argentina ahead of next week's Championship opener. 'He said congrats and, pretty much, see you Friday,' Preston said of his conversation with Robertson. 'He just said, 'we've seen what you've been doing with the Crusaders this year, we're excited to have you in' and he knows I'll make the most of this opportunity. That's all I can really do; be myself and hopefully add to the environment with what I've got.' All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship Hookers: Codie Taylor, Samisoni Taukei'aho, Brodie McAlister. Props: Ethan de Groot, Tamaiti Williams, Ollie Norris, Tyrel Lomax, Fletcher Newell, Pasilio Tosi. Locks: Scott Barrett (captain), Patrick Tuipulotu, Tupou Vaa'i, Fabian Holland. Loose forwards: Samipeni Finau, Simon Parker, Ardie Savea, Du'Plessis Kirifi, Wallace Sititi, Peter Lakai, Luke Jacobson. Halfbacks: Cortez Ratima, Cameron Roigard, Noah Hotham. First five-eighths: Beauden Barrett, Damian McKenzie. Midfielders: Anton Lienert-Brown, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Billy Proctor, Timoci Tavatavanawai. Outside backs: Rieko Ioane, Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, Emoni Narawa, Will Jordan, Ruben Love. Injury cover: George Bower (for Tamaiti Williams), Tevita Mafileo (for Tyrel Lomax), Josh Lord (for Luke Jacobson), Finlay Christie (for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham), Kyle Preston (for Cameron Roigard/Noah Hotham), Leroy Carter (for Caleb Clarke). Unavailable for selection: Ofa Tu'ungafasi, Asafo Aumua, Stephen Perofeta. Christopher Reive joined the Herald sports team in 2017, bringing the same versatility to his coverage as he does to his sports viewing habits.
RNZ News
16 hours ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 5 August
Scott Robertson speaks to media on Monday about his All Blacks squad for the Rugby Championship. Photo: Nathan Mckinnon / RNZ Fiji-born utility backline player Timoci Tavatavanawai has been retained in the All Blacks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship series. Tavatavanawai, first selected for the series against France in July, has been named by head coach Scott Robertson alongside fellow Queen Victoria School alumni Sevu Reece and Emoni Narawa. He is one of 16 players of Pasifika heritage named in the squad to face Argentina, Australia and South Africa in the series, which kicks off on 17 August. Two more players of Pasifika originals are named as injury covers, in George Bower and Tevita Mafileo. The All Blacks face the Pumas in their first game. Three Fijian players tested positive for illegal drugs during the Fiji Football Association-organised Battle of the Giants tournament in Labasa at the weekend. Fiji Football Association chief executive Mohammed Yusuf said 48 tests were done on Friday and Saturday. The Fiji Sun reported disciplinary actions range from a fine and a three-month suspension for first offenders, to harsher penalties if that's warranted. Yusuf said the Fiji FA is teaming up with a non-governmental organisation to take drug awareness into districts around the country. The Fiji men's netball team has recorded a narrow 43-42 win over New Zealand on day one of an invitational tournament in Suva. It was the first time the two teams met in men's netball. FBC reported the high-intensity match lived up to the hype. Meanwhile, Fiji A also defeated Tonga 60-37 in the opening match. The action continues on Tuesday with Fiji A taking on New Zealand while Tonga squares off against the main Fiji team. World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson says "rugby is the game of the Pacific". The former Wallaby, now at the helm of world rugby, made the comments after Pacific rugby chiefs recently raised concern over the NRL's investment into the region. The NRL's multi-million-dollar deal between the Australian and PNG governments has raised concerns on how that might affect rugby union. Speaking at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Robinson said he's confident of rugby's status in the Pacific. Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan says he wants the CNMI to send their largest-ever delegation to the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti. Marianas Variety reported Tan made the statement at a celebration ceremony for NMI athletes who competed at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Tan said the goal is to send 259 athletes to Tahiti, representing sports such as football, swimming, va'a, baseball, sailing, taekwondo and power lifting. He said work on the process of securing a charter flight with Air Tahiti will begin soon, with fundraising activities to fund Team NMI also expected to roll out in the next few months.
