Former Dolphin player a Head Coach in Ireland’s World Cup Group.
When Dolphin were looking for a forward to help them make an impression in their first season in AIL Division 1 little did they know they would recruit a future International Coach.
Steve Jackson had a great pedigree, Nz U 17, part of the undefeated New Zealand Secondary Schools and New Zealand U19 sides in 1991 & 1992. He played for Auckland in the competition now known as Mitre 10 and at the age of 24 decided to go for his overseas experience and found himself in Dolphin for the 1997/98 season, scoring a try on his AIL debut a 25-24 victory over Garryowen.
After the season he was back to New Zealand to Southland where he was captain when he was selected for the New Zealand Maori side.
He was assistant coach at Tasman and Counties-Manukau before securing his first head coaching role at North Harbour, leading them to the Championship win which saw them promoted to the Premiership. He then became forwards coach for the Auckland Blues in 2017 & 2018.
It has been a very strange time for Samoa, most of their income comes from World Rugby and they wanted the final say in appointing a coach and the last coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua was not their nominated man. So they were forced to readvertise the position, there were over 40 applications, the shortlist of 4 included Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua & Steven Jackson but World Rugby approved Jackson for the position.
In his first 3 games Samoa defeated Spain and were defeated by a point by US Eagles and 8 points by Georgia.
Another man who played for Dolphin (just the once) Peter Borlase is also in the news, he has been appointed Forwards Coach with Glendale Raptors in US Major League Rugby – previously USA U20 coach.