Neil Barnes joined the Chiefs in 2016 directly from the 2015 Rugby World Cup where he was the Canadian forwards coach. The Taranaki dairy farmer brings a wealth of coaching experience having spent seven years away including two Rugby World Cup campaigns as the Canadian Maples forwards coach.
Barnes was the assistant coach for the Taranaki provincial side and the Hurricanes Colts assistant coach with Dave Rennie. The dairy farmer has won seven club rugby titles with New Plymouth Old Boys and also represented Taranaki for a few matches at lock.
Since his return he has continued to add to his coaching resume completing his third Rugby World Cup campaign, this time with Fiji as their assistant coach.
He has continued as the Chiefs assistant coach under Warren Gatland.
Career
 |
Taranaki Head Coach |
2003 - present |
 |
Old Boys Marist RFC - Whangarei Coach |
1993 - 2001 |
 |
Canada Coach |
2009 - 2015 |
 |
Fiji Coach |
2019 - 2019 |
 |
Chiefs Coach |
2015 - 2022 |
