Brett Wilkinson

Brett Wilkinson (born 29 November 1983) is a South African born rugby union coach and former player. He is currently scrum coach at Ealing Trailfinders. Previously, he was head coach for HKU Sandy Bay in the Hong Kong Premiership and scrum coach for the Hong Kong national team and Global Rapid Rugby side the South China Tigers. He coached at Brunel University for one year between 2021 and 2022 before being promoted to Ealing Trailfinders scrum coach.

During his playing career, he played as a prop. From 2006 until 2014, when he was forced to retire due to injury, Wilkinson played for Irish provincial side Connacht, and also represented Ireland at international 'A' level after qualifying on residency. After retiring from playing, he started his coaching career in Ireland, becoming head coach of All-Ireland League side Buccaneers.

Playing career Schools Wilkinson attended Kingswood College in Grahamstown, playing for the school's senior rugby team. He came to prominence while playing for the University of Cape Town, and after a successful season in 2005 received a number of offers but chose to move to Europe and play for Irish side Connacht.

Connacht Wilkinson joined Connacht for the 2006–07 season, and made his debut on 1 September 2006 in an away victory over Scottish side Border Reivers in the Celtic League, playing the full 80 minutes in a Connacht victory. He made his first European appearance for Connacht on 20 October 2006 against Harlequins in the 2006–07 European Challenge Cup coming on as a replacement. Wilkinson played in a total of 18 Celtic League matches in his first season, 16 of these coming as starts, and also played in five Challenge Cup matches. In the following season, Wilkinson continued to play regularly for the side. With the number of teams reduced to 10 for the 2007–08 Celtic League, Wilkinson featured in all 18 of Connacht's matches, with only one of these appearances coming as a replacement. With the number of teams having been expanded to 12, he played in 20 games in the 2010–11 Celtic League under new coach Eric Elwood. including a victory over four-time Heineken Cup winners Toulouse. In Connacht's final match of the pool stages away to Saracens, Wilkinson was forced to leave the field and be replaced due to injury. On 26 March 2014, it was announced that Wilkinson was retiring from rugby due to a neck ligament injury sustained against Saracens, having played for Connacht 183 times.

International Although born in South Africa, Wilkinson qualified to play for Ireland through the three-year residency rule. Wilkinson was called to train with the Ireland squad in 2009. He was also called up to the senior Ireland squad for the tour of New Zealand in 2012. Wilkinson made five appearances for Ireland's second tier side, now known as Ireland Wolfhounds, scoring a try against Tonga in 2009.

Coaching career Buccaneers In 2015, Wilkinson became head coach of the Connacht branch All-Ireland League side Buccaneers. In his first season in charge, he guided the Division 1B side to the promotion play-offs. The team also won the Connacht Senior League title for the first time since 2007. The team did even better in Wilkinson's second season, winning a League and Cup double in Connacht, as well claiming the 2016–17 Division 1B title, earning the Buccaneers promotion to the top flight of club rugby in Ireland for the first time in a decade.

Move to Hong Kong In June 2017, it was announced that Wilkinson would depart Buccaneers, having taken an offer of a coaching role with Hong Kong Premiership side Hong Kong Cricket. The move saw him link up with former Connacht teammate and fellow South African, Dylan Rogers. In May 2018, the rugby section from Hong Kong cricket club, including Wilkinson, moved en masse to join with the Hong Kong University and Sandy Bay RFC which had been a mini and youth rugby club only up to that point, forming a new senior club, Hong Kong University Sandy Bay RFC. Following a tough start to the first season for this new senior team, where they won only two games before Christmas, they turned it around in the second half of the season. Wilkinson's charges won five games in a row, all with bonus points, to make the playoffs and from there ultimately won the Grand Championship in the new side's first season.

In addition to serving as head coach of Sandy Bay, Wilkinson's time in Hong Kong has seen him become assistant coach to other teams. He serves as scrum coach to the Hong Kong national side and to the South China Tigers in the Global Rapid Rugby competition.