Vernon Anthony Cotter (born 27 January 1962) is a New Zealandrugby union coach and former player, who was most recently the head coach of the Fiji national team.[1] He started his coaching career at Bay of Plenty including winning the Ranfurly shield for the first time in the union’s history [2] 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 coaching them to 6 finals and 2 titles including their first ever bouclier du Brennus [3] 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.[4] In January 2020 Cotter was appointed coach of Fiji,[5] but resigned in January 2023. He is currently coaching the Blues [6] and coached them to the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific title.
In 1999, Cotter returned to New Zealand and took on the role of head coach of Bay of Plenty in the National Provincial Championship. During his first year in charge, he led the side to the Second Division championship of the North Island, but did not progress in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004.
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.
Clermont
Top 14
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.
Heineken Cup
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.
Scotland
Cotter departed Clermont in May 2014, to take on the role of head coach of Scotland.[7] 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.
Cotters first challenge as Scotland's head coach, was a 4-match tour across three continents over four consecutive weeks. In Cotters first match in charge, he led the team to a 24–6 win over the United States in Houston. A week later, a 19–17 win over Canada in Toronto. Cotter first major match in charge was a Friday night fixture against Argentina in Córdoba. Heading into this match, Scotland had won three connective matches against the Pumas on Argentine soil. This streak was extended following a 21–19 win over Argentina. A week later, Cotter faced his toughest challenge, an away match to the Springboks outside the International Window. This meant, Cotter could only select players that played for either Glasgow Warriors or Edinburgh. The weakened team lost 55–6 in Port Elizabeth, the biggest losing margin to South Africa on South African soil.
In Cotter's first home match at Murrayfield Stadium, Scotland won 41–31, scoring five tries against Argentina. It was the most tries they had scored against a Tier 1 nation since they scored five tries against Ireland in 2007. It was believed much of the team were based around the success of Scottish club side Glasgow Warriors, with 10 of the starting XV from the Glasgow side, with a further four players on the bench. The following fixture was a narrow 16–24 loss to New Zealand. For much of that match, Scotland had been in touching distance of a first ever victory over the All Blacks, but a late try during the 73rd minute secured the win for the No. 1 ranked side. Scotland's final fixture was against Tonga at Rugby Park in Kilmarnock. The match was the first ever match to be played on a fully artificial pitch by a Tier 1 nation approved by World Rugby. For Scotland, they won convincingly 37–12, gaining revenge following their first ever loss to Tonga in 2012.
During the 2015 Six Nations Championship, Scotland finished last place with no wins in their campaign. Most of their losses were narrow defeats, including a home loss to Italy for the first time since 2007. Though, during Scotland's Rugby World Cup warm-ups, Scotland gained revenge with a record win 48–7. Before Scotland's warm-up matches began, Cotter extended his contract with the SRU until 2017.[8] During the 2015 Rugby World Cup, Scotland progressed from the pool stage with wins against Japan, 45–10, the United States, 39–16, and Samoa, 36–33, losing only to South Africa, 34–16. In the knockout stage they faced a highly fancied Australia team. With six minutes to go Scotland scored a try to lead against all expectations by 34–32. However, with a minute to go Australia kicked a highly controversial and disputed penalty to win the game 35–34 and end Scotland's participation in the tournament.
During the 2016 Six Nations Championship, Cotter led Scotland to their first victory over France since 2006, when they defeated the French 29–18. Scotland went on to finish 4th in the Championship, with a second win against Italy 36–20, but narrow losses to England 15–9, Wales 27–23 and Ireland 35–25 meant Scotland only finished with two wins. In June 2016, Cotter led Scotland to a 26–13 and 21–16 win over Japan to win their test series with the Brave Blossoms 2–0, winning their first test series since 2010.
In August 2016 it was announced that the Scottish Rugby Union would not be renewing Cotter's contract. The SRU Chief Executive, Mark Dodson said that "Vern Cotter has made a considerable impact on the development of the Scotland national side during his tenure. His rugby philosophy of setting high standards with a big emphasis on skill development has had a positive effect throughout Scottish rugby" and that he would continue as head coach until June 2017 after which Gregor Townsend would take over the position ahead of the June internationals.[9] A fan petition was created by fans to #KeepVern which gained over 3000 signatures [10]
During the 2016 Autumn Internationals, Cotter led Scotland to two victories, beating Argentina 19–16 with a last minute penalty from Greig Laidlaw, before going on to beat Georgia 43–16; this was the first time that Scotland had hosted Georgia in a test match. Scotland narrowly lost to Australia, losing 23–22, though Scotland had been leading 22–16 with 5 minutes to go in the game.
In Cotter's final campaign as Scottish Coach, Scotland had their most successful Six Nations despite finishing 4th in the table. They won all three of their home games, beating Ireland 27–22, Wales 29–13 - in what was Scotland's first win over Wales since 2007 - and Italy 29–0 - which was the first time that Scotland had not conceded any points in a test match since beating Canada 41–0 in 2008. It was also the first ever time they kept Italy pointless and in a Six Nations game. Leading into the fourth round, Scotland were still within a chance of winning the Championship, however with a loss to France in round 2 (22–16) and then England in the fourth round (61–21) Scotland could not secure the Championship. However had France and Ireland not had their respective wins in the final round, Scotland would have finished in their highest ever positioning in the Six Nations of second.
In May 2017, Cotter left his position at Scotland with a 53% win rate (19 wins from 36 games), then the most successful coach of the professional era and the most successful since Ian McGeechan between 1988 and 1993.
In January 2020 Cotter was appointed as coach of the Fijian national rugby team.
