Terenure make huge splash with appointment of All Black legend Carlos Spencer

TERENURE-BOUND: Assistant coach Carlos Spencer of the Blues talks to players during the round one Super Rugby Aupiki match between Hurricanes Poua and Blues at Sky Stadium on March 01, 2025 in Wellington, New Zealand. Pic: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Terenure College have pulled off one of the more astonishing coups in Irish rugby after the AIL side announced All Black icon Carlos Spencer as their new head coach. 

The south Dublin club made the startling announcement Saturday afternoon that Spencer will move to Ireland this summer to begin a three-year contract at the helm. 

"Terenure is a club with a proud history, passionate supporters and a strong sense of community," Spencer said. "I feel very lucky and honored to now be a part of that."

Delighted to announce the appointment of Former All Black fly half, Carlos Spencer, as the new Head Coach of our Senior men's squad on a 3 year contract.@Sherry_Fitz @sflettings @GrantThorntonIE #energiaAIL #irishrugby #AllBlacks pic.twitter.com/tBARK3bj3D

— Terenure College RFC (@terenurerugby) May 10, 2025

Spencer won 44 All Blacks caps between 1995 and 2004 and is fondly remembered as one of the most skillful, flamboyant playmakers in the earlier days of professional rugby. His club career brought him from the Auckland Blues to Northampton and Gloucester before a stint in South Africa with the Lions. As a coach he has worked on the staffs of the Lions, Sharks, Hurricanes and in Major League Rugby Stateside and most recently was an assistant with the Blues.

"Carlos was the outstanding candidate following our recruitment process. We believe this is an ambitious and exciting appointment for our Club, the All-Ireland League and Irish Rugby," said Will Moore, Terenure's Chairman of Rugby.

"Carlos will be welcomed warmly into the Terenure community and everyone involved with our club is extremely excited to begin working with him, especially the players. We are confident that Carlos will bring with him an incredible wealth of knowledge, experience and skill from his professional playing and coaching career and we are looking forward to the journey ahead."

Terenure, who finished sixth in the 2024/25 AIL Division 1, also announced that the vastly experienced Paul Barr will be taking on the role of Performance Director, working closely with longstanding Director of Rugby lan Morgan.