Born in Port Elizabeth South Africa, Wesley Clarke came to New Zealand on his own as a 19 year old because he loved rugby, and wanted to go on an adventure.
He has worked his way through various sport and rugby roles (sports co-ordinator, rugby development officer, professional rugby analyst, team manager, assistant coach) to being an international rugby coach with the Black Ferns for 8 years culminating in his 2nd World Cup win at the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup (played in 2022).
In the Women’s game Wesley Clarke started his coaching career with the Auckland Marist women’s rugby team in 2002 and went on to coach both the Auckland Storm (2016) and the Manawatu Cyclones (2009 and 2013). He also coached the Manawatu Women’s 7’ team to a National 7’s title after reaching their second consecutive final (2015-2016). Wesley joined the Black Ferns coaching team in 2015 and was an integral part of their 5th Women’s Rugby World Cup win in 2017 as their lineout, defence and forwards play specialist coach. In 2018, Wesley was employed as assistant coach/Talent Identification Manager for the Black Ferns. This was the first time a fulltime staff member was employed for the Black Ferns. Between 2015 and 2022 the Black Ferns won every tournament they played in with the exception only of the post-covid tour to England and France. In 2022, Wesley won his 2nd World Cup with the Black Ferns in front of a noisy crowd in a packed out Eden Park.
In 2025 he was announced as the head coach of Manawatu in the NPC
Career
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Manawatu Head Coach |
2025 - present |
