George Simpkin

A native of Northland,[4] he played for the Matamata College team, where he began his coaching career in 1966 as a physical education teacher and playing coach,[5][6] between 1976 and 1984, Simpkin coached Waikato[7] and achieved 56 victories in a row.[8] As part of the Waikato team, he advanced to the first division of the National Provincial Championship, winning in 1980 the Ranfurly Shield, beating the Auckland team.[9][10] In aggregate, under his leadership, Waikato played 152 matches in the provincial championship, winning 95 matches, drawing 3 and losing 54,[11] among these, Waikato won a match against the French national team.[12] Simpkin dreamed of one day becoming the head of All Blacks.[13]

Between 1987 and 1991, Simpkin coached the Fiji national team: in 1987 he took the team to the quarterfinals of the first world championship in tandem with Jo Sovau;[14] in 1991 he coached alongside Samisoni Viriviri, however, the team did not got past the group stage.[15] Simpkin also coached the Fiji Sevens team between 1984 and 1990, with which he won the annual Hong Kong Sevens in 1984 and 1990. It is believed that it was Simpkin who saw the talent of the future world star Waisale Serevi.[16]

In 1988–1999, he permanently worked in the Hong Kong Rugby Football Union,[17][18] developing rugby in China and organizing the first matches among the PLA military personnel in Hong Kong after the British transfer of Hong Kong to China in 1997.[19] His contribution to the development of Hong Kong rugby is highly regarded in the country: Simpkin helped the Hong Kong tournament acquire the status of the most prestigious,[20] creating a number of rugby clubs (Hong Kong Dragons, Gai Wu, Tigers, Bulls, Nomads, Typhoons).[21]

For some time, Simpkin also worked with the national teams of Sri Lanka, raising the level of development of sports in the country.[22] The rugby union team under his leadership won for the first time in a test match played away against Kazakhstan.[23][24] In 2003, thanks to his efforts, the first Carlton Super Sevens tournament was held in Sri Lanka.[25]

Later, Simpkin coached the German club SC Frankfurt 1880 in the 2006–07 season.[26][27] In 2010, he led the Germany sevens team, which he was preparing for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.[28]