| Birth name | Jonathan Brian Gibbes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 22 January 1977 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Henderson, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.94 m (6 ft 4+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 112 kg (17 st 9 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Jonathan Brian Gibbes (born 22 January 1977) is a rugby union former player and coach. He is a former New Zealand rugby union player who captained Waikato, the Chiefs and the Māori All Blacks, and appeared in various All Blacks teams. He is the former forwards coach of Leinster in Ireland and Clermont Auvergne in France while also serving as head coach of Ulster in Ireland, and was the director of rugby at La Rochelle. He is currently the head coach of the New Zealand U20 team.
Rugby playing career
Gibbes traditionally played at the position of Blindside Flanker, or No.6, but has also played at Lock. Due to his height of 194 cm, he was overlooked by the All Black selectors for being too short for an international class lock.
Weighing 109 kg, Gibbes's career was plagued by injury. Nonetheless, his line-out jumping skills were impressive, and under the guidance of John Mitchell was selected as captain of the Waikato NPC team in 2003. Despite various appearances for the All Blacks, Gibbes highest career achievement was captaining the NZ Maori to their first ever victory over the British & Irish Lions 19–13. During the match, which was played at Waikato and Chiefs home ground of Waikato Stadium, Gibbes was on the ground suffering from cramp but staggered to his feet to make a try-saving tackle.
On 13 June 2006, it was announced that Gibbes would be joining the Ospreys in Wales. On 6 September 2006 however, the NZRU and Waikato announced that he has signed a new three-year contract with them. The 2007 season saw Gibbes remain in New Zealand and continue with the Chiefs, with injury again affecting his availability.
Rugby coaching career
In July 2008 it was announced that Gibbes had been appointed as forwards coach of Leinster in Ireland.
In February 2017 it was announced that Gibbes had been appointed as head coach of Ulster in Ireland, on a two-year contract from the 2017/18 season.
In March 2018 he announced he was leaving Ulster to return to New Zealand for family reasons after only one season. A few days later it was revealed he would take over as coach at Waikato, a move he described as a product of his need to find employment following his decision to move home.
However, in June 2018, less than three months after his departure from Ulster to return to New Zealand was made public it was revealed he would become head coach of La Rochelle in France.
Rory Best has subsequently written of his disappointment at the manner of Gibbes’ exit from Ulster.