Vern Cotter

Vernon Anthony Cotter (born 27 January 1962) is a New Zealand rugby union coach and former player. He currently coaches the Blues in Super Rugby.

He started his coaching career at Bay of Plenty including winning the Ranfurly Shield for the first time in the Union’s history. He was part of the coaching staff for the successful Crusaders side between 2005 and 2006 winning 2 titles, before coaching in France with Clermont Auvergne between 2006 and 2014. He coached them to 6 finals and 2 titles, including their first ever bouclier du Brennus. He then coached the Scotland national team from 2014, including a quarter final at the 2015 Rugby World Cup, and left his role in May 2017 as his contract was not extended by the Scottish Rugby Union. In January 2020 Cotter was appointed coach of Fiji, but resigned in January 2023.

Vern Cotter spent 10 years representing Counties Manukau in New Zealand before playing for a number of clubs in France.

Cotter returned to New Zealand and became the head coach of Bay of Plenty, beginning with the 2000 National Provincial Championship. During his first year in charge, he led the side to the second division championship.

During the 2004 Super 12 season, Cotter was made forwards coach of the Crusaders, when the side finished runners-up to the ACT Brumbies. He continued in his post as forwards coach through the 2005 season when the Crusaders won the competition, and the side retained their title in the 2006 season.

In 2006, Cotter was made Head Coach of ASM Clermont Auvergne for the 2006–07 Top 14 season when Clermont finished runners-up behind Stade Français. The following year, Cotter coached the side to 20 out of 26 victories in the regular season, finishing first in the table before the knock-out stages. However, Clermont finished second overall, losing to Toulouse in the Grand Final. For the third successive year under Cotter, Clermont lost the final in the 2008–09 Top 14 season, but did win their first title in 2009–10 after beating Perpignan in the final. In the 2010–11, 2011–12 and 2012–13 seasons Clermont were knocked out in the semi-finals. However, in Cotters final season in charge of Clermont, Clermont were knocked out in the quarter-finals, losing at home 22–16 to defending champions Castres. This loss was also Clermont's first loss at home in 77 matches, which dates back to the 16–13 loss to Biarritz in Round 13 of the 2009–10 Top 14 season.

During his first year as head coach of Clermont, Cotter was able to lead the side into the Heineken Cup, after winning all their matches in the 2006–07 European Challenge Cup. Clermont were unable to advance out of the group stages between 2007 and 2009. During the 2009–10 Heineken Cup, Clermont entered the knock-out stages of the Heineken Cup for the first time, but lost to Leinster in the quarter-finals. In the 2012-13 season, Cotter led the side to the Heineken Cup Final at the Aviva Stadium, but lost 16-15 to Toulon. During the 2013–14 Heineken Cup, Clermont finished in seed 2 after the pool stage, winning five from six matches (lost against Racing Métro, won against Harlequins home and away, Scarlets home and away, and Racing Métro at home). Cotter led Clermont to their third consecutive quarter-final, beating Leicester Tigers 22–16. However, their third consecutive semi-final ended with a record losing margin of 46–6 to Saracens at Twickenham.

Cotter departed Clermont in May 2014, to take on the role of head coach of Scotland. He was named the coach in May 2013, but as Clermont and the SRU failed to agree to release Cotter a year earlier, Cotter remained with Clermont until the end of his contract or until Clermont was knocked out of theirs respective tournaments.