Canterbury Rugby will farewell Head Coach Marty Bourke at the conclusion of the 2025 Bunnings Warehouse NPC season, closing out five influential years with the Red and Black.

Bourke first joined Canterbury as Assistant Coach in 2021, before stepping up to the Head Coach role in 2022, where he has led the team for the past four seasons. During this time, he has brought energy, leadership, and a genuine passion for the game, while showing an unwavering commitment to the growth of rugby and players across the region. Marty has played a pivotal part in shaping the team’s culture, driving performance standards, and inspiring the next generation of Red and Black talent. His influence will be felt well beyond his tenure.

CEO Tony Smail said Bourke’s impact has reached across all corners of Canterbury Rugby:

“Marty has poured his heart into this team and this province. He’s been a huge part of Canterbury Rugby, community and high-performance rugby, driving standards and developing players who love wearing the Red and Black as well as those who aspire to. His leadership, professionalism, and influence has been felt right across our organisation, and he leaves behind a legacy that will be part of this organisation for years to come. We look forward to seeing where his coaching journey takes him next and thank him for the passion, commitment and care he has shown for Canterbury Rugby.”

Bourke says his focus remains firmly on the season ahead:

“It has been the biggest privilege of my rugby journey to coach this team and to represent a province with such an incredible history. I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to create together, and any successes have come down to the collective effort, hard work and support from everyone in and around our environment. This has been the toughest decision of my career because of the strong bonds and connections I feel towards the region but I feel now is the right moment for someone else to step in and take the team forward into the future. My absolute priority is this NPC season and doing all we can to finish on a high. I’ll always be honoured to have been part of the Red and Black family, and to the fans, players, staff and community – thank you for making these years so special and making me a better person.”

Canterbury Rugby will confirm the 2026 coaching group following the NPC season, with the search for a new Head Coach to begin once reviews are complete. For now, all focus remains on finishing this year’s campaign strongly.