Henno Venter
Warwickshire,UK
Summary
Senior rugby leader and Director of Rugby with over 25 years’ experience spanning professional rugby, academies, schools, and community sport. RFU Level 4 qualified coach with a strong reputation for programme leadership, talent development, and organisational alignment across grassroots-to-elite pathways. Experienced in academy environments, education leadership, alternative provision, and operational management, combining high-performance coaching with pastoral care, safeguarding oversight, and strategic planning. Known for building high-trust cultures, developing people, and forming effective partnerships across clubs, schools, colleges, and governing bodies.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work history
Director of Rugby
Shipston-on-Stour RFC
05.2025 - 01.2026
- Strategic leadership across Minis, Juniors, Colts, and Senior teams, ensuring club-wide alignment and long-term sustainability.
- Support recruitment, development, and retention of players and staff.
- Strengthen operational systems and governance.
- Develop external partnerships including Gloucester Rugby and Moreton Morrell College, enhancing player pathways and opportunities.
- Champion an inclusive, values-led, performance-focused club culture.
Operations Manager & Head of Post-15 Provision
Flourish at the Farm (Alternative Provision)
04.2024 - 01.2026
- Overall operational leadership of a Post-15 alternative provision setting.
- Oversight of safeguarding, wellbeing, staffing, timetabling, and term planning.
- Primary liaison with schools, colleges, local authorities, councils, parents, and teachers.
- Health & Safety Lead, ensuring statutory compliance and risk management.
- Staff appraisal, performance management, and disciplinary oversight.
Head of Rugby
Portsmouth Grammar School
09.2023 - 04.2025
- Lead rugby provision from Junior to Senior School.
- Programme design, seasonal planning, and coach coordination.
- Player profiling, 1-to-1 feedback, and video analysis.
- Led 1st XV to Schools Cup Bowl Semi-Finals.
- Established and grew a successful Girls’ Rugby Programme.
- Rugby mentoring programme focused on resilience, pressure management, and life skills.
Academy Coach (U16 A)
Bath Rugby
09.2024 - 04.2025
- Academy coach within the Bath Rugby pathway.
- Lead coach for U16 A squad, delivering high-performance sessions.
- Talent identification, recruitment support, and player profiling.
- Delivered 1-to-1 technical and position-specific coaching.
- Performance review using video analysis and structured feedback.
Assistant Director of Rugby & Head of House
Warwick School
01.2013 - 08.2023
- Coaching leadership across Junior to Senior teams; multiple Schools Cup finals.
- 1st XV recognised as Team of the Decade.
- Academy liaison and elite player pathway support.
- Oversight of logistics, transport, medical coordination, and tours (UK & overseas).
- Pastoral leadership as Head of House.
- Designed and delivered a school-wide Mental Skills Programme.
Academy & Performance Coaching Roles
01.2012 - 01.2022
- DPP Coach (U16) – Wasps Academy
- Head Coach (1st XV) – Stratford-upon-Avon RFC
- Head Coach (U20) – East Midlands RFU
- Head Coach / Forwards Coach – Birmingham & Solihull Bees RFC
- Roles included high-performance coaching, talent identification, recruitment, contract negotiations, and media engagement.
Professional Rugby Player
01.2000 - 01.2012
- Professional Rugby Player (2000 – 2012), including: - Coventry RFC - Jersey RFC - Sedgley Park Tigers RFC - Natal Sharks (South Africa) - South African Rugby Academy - Mighty Elephants (South Africa)
Education
BSc (Hons) - Sport, Fitness & Coaching in Action
Open University
RFU Level 4 Certificate - Coaching Rugby Union
RFU & Hartpury University
Cert HE - Learning in the Lifelong Sector
City College Coventry
Skills
- Director of Rugby & Programme Leadership
- Academy & Talent Pathway Development
- Player Profiling, Performance & Video Analysis
- Coach Education & Mentoring
- Operational & Strategic Management
- Safeguarding, Pastoral Care & Wellbeing
- Stakeholder Engagement (Schools, Clubs, LAs, Colleges)
- Budgeting, Resources & Logistics
- Recruitment, Contracts & Talent Identification
- Media, Communications & Public Engagement
- Executive leadership across sport and education, spanning professional rugby, academies, schools, community clubs, and alternative provision
- Director-level responsibility for strategy, people management, operations, safeguarding, and performance outcomes
- Proven ability to align multi-team organisations, creating coherent pathways from grassroots to elite level
- Trusted leader in high-pressure environments, balancing performance expectations with wellbeing and duty of care
- Strong track record of building and leading multidisciplinary teams, including coaches, educators, support staff, and volunteers
- Experienced in board-level engagement, stakeholder reporting, and external partnership development
- Credible public-facing leader with experience in media, parent engagement, and community representation
- Crisis management expertise
Websites
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
- RFU Director of Rugby
- RFU England Schools
- Independent Director of Rugby Coach Education
- Next Generation 7s – Mike Friday
- Defence, Periodisation & Player Profiling (Worcester University)
- Scrum Factory – Graham Smith
- Alistair McCaw: Champion Minded
- Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
- QA Level 3 First Aid at Work (RQF)
Languages
Afrikaans
Native
Affiliations
- Watching live sport, concerts, theatre, family days out, traveling, sightseeing
Custom
References available on request
Timeline
Director of Rugby
Shipston-on-Stour RFC
05.2025 - 01.2026
Academy Coach (U16 A)
Bath Rugby
09.2024 - 04.2025
Operations Manager & Head of Post-15 Provision
Flourish at the Farm (Alternative Provision)
04.2024 - 01.2026
Head of Rugby
Portsmouth Grammar School
09.2023 - 04.2025
Assistant Director of Rugby & Head of House
Warwick School
01.2013 - 08.2023
Academy & Performance Coaching Roles
01.2012 - 01.2022
Professional Rugby Player
01.2000 - 01.2012
RFU Level 4 Certificate - Coaching Rugby Union
RFU & Hartpury University
Cert HE - Learning in the Lifelong Sector
City College Coventry
BSc (Hons) - Sport, Fitness & Coaching in Action
Open University