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This time the Seattle Seawolves won’t have to worry about visa problems. The two-time defending Major League Rugby Champions have hired former Namibia prop Kees Lensing as Head Coach for the 2020 season. He makes the switch from east coast to west having acted as Forwards Coach for Rugby United New York this past season.
Lensing, 41, enjoyed an 11 year career as a professional player before turning to coaching. The loosehead prop played in both the 2003 and 2007 World Cups for Namibia. He also suited up for the Bulls and Sharks in Super Rugby, Leeds in the English Premiership, and finally Castres in the French Top 14.
Upon retirement he took up a coaching position with the Bulls Academy before moving to Japan in 2015 to work with the scrum and defense for the Canon Eagles. He moved to New York in late 2018 and was quickly snapped up by RUNY Head Coach Mike Tolkin for their inaugural MLR regular season.
Despite playing only two seasons, Lensing is the fifth Head Coach hired by the Seawolves. Tony Healy and Anton Moolman were announced prior to the 2018 and 2019 seasons respectively but neither was able to secure a visa, leaving Phil Mack to take over as player-coach in 2018 and Richie Walker to step in at the 11th hour in 2019. Walker has since left the team to take up a position as Senior Women’s Head Coach with the Auckland Rugby Union in his native New Zealand.
