Don Tricker Appointed New Zealand Rugby High Performance Director

New Zealand Rugby (NZR) has announced the high-profile appointment of Don Tricker as the organisation’s new High Performance Director.

The move marks a strategic homecoming for one of New Zealand’s most respected high-performance experts, tasked with overseeing the leadership of the national high-performance system, coach development, and elite player pathways.

The appointment seeks to integrate modern global performance methodologies into its national structures, as Tricker will be responsible for ensuring that New Zealand’s provincial unions and Super Rugby clubs are aligned with a “singular focus” on driving consistent success for the nation’s representative teams.

Emphasising that Tricker’s primary mandate is the creation of a performance culture that reflects New Zealand’s unique rugby identity, NZR Interim CEO, Steve Lancaster, said: “Don brings a track record of delivering success across elite high-performance environments.”

“Don will lead a high-performance system that is aligned from pathways through to our national teams,” Lancaster said.

Highlighting that his focus remains on the “here and now” of the New Zealand system, particularly the partnership with domestic clubs and unions, Tricker, noted: “My role is about creating a system that develops players that our national teams want to select.”

“To do that we need to be working in partnership with Provincial Unions and Super Rugby clubs,” Tricker stated.

Global Expertise and MLB Transition

Tricker joins NZR from a tenure in North American professional sports, currently serving as the vice president of Player Health & Performance for the San Diego Padres in Major League Baseball (MLB). To ensure a seamless transition, Tricker will officially commence his full-time duties in November 2026 following the conclusion of the MLB season.

A transition plan has been established to allow Tricker to embed himself within the NZR environment throughout 2026. This period of “discovery” will see him spend time with national team programmes during windows in the baseball calendar.

Leadership and Coaching Support

The role places Tricker at the helm of the high-performance support network for New Zealand’s top-tier coaches, including Black Ferns head coach Allan Bunting (Whitney) and All Blacks head coach Scott Robertson (Dave). His deep understanding of elite coaching and athlete health, honed in both rugby and baseball, is expected to provide a fresh perspective on injury prevention and peak performance cycles.

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