Born: 8 August, 1946 in Christchurch, New Zealand
World Rugby Hall of Fame – Inductee No.147

Having won multiple provincial and Super Rugby titles with Auckland and the Blues, Graham Henry cut his teeth in international rugby by leading Wales from 1998-02. A run of 11 consecutive wins earned him the title of “The Great Redeemer” but it is his time with the All Blacks that made him an immortal of the coaching world.

Henry holds the rare distinction of coaching for and against the British and Irish Lions, losing one series while in charge of the tourists, against Australia in 2001, and winning the other as All Blacks head coach in 2005, the year after he succeeded John Mitchell in the role.

Named World Rugby Coach of the Year in 2005 after his 3-0 series win over the Lions in 2005, an accolade he would win a further four times in 2006, 2008, 2010-11, Henry set about bringing the Webb Ellis Cup back to New Zealand. A shock quarter-final defeat to France ended that dream in 2007 but Henry stayed in position to deliver the prize four years later on home soil.

On 1 November, 2011, Henry announced he would step down as coach, finishing his All Blacks career as one of the most successful rugby coaches of all time with 88 wins from 103 tests. Following his knighthood for services to rugby in 2012, Henry remained involved in the sport through a variety of consultancy coaching roles, including a spell with Argentina.