Former All Black Danny Lee coached in Major League Rugby between 2022-2025. He served as the Head Coach of the San Diego Legion (2023-2024) and Head Coach of the NOLA Gold (2025).

A native of Hastings in Hawke’s Bay, NZ, Lee began his pro playing career with Hawke’s Bay in the competition that would become the Air New Zealand Cup (now the NPC) in the mid-1990s. He joined the Hurricanes in the Super 12 (now Super Rugby) in 1997 while also playing with the Cwntral Vikings before moving to play with the Chiefs between 1999-2002, while also earning his two caps for the All Blacks in 2002. Lee then moved to the Highlanders between 2003-2005, also representing Otago in the 2nd tier, before returning to Hawke’s Bay between 2006-2008, and playing with the Blues in Super Rugby in 2008.

Upon retiring from playing professional rugby, Lee turned his attention to the coaching side, coaching his former team Hawke’s Bay between 2011-2017 before heading to Japan and coaching the Mie Honda Heat until 2021. Lee signed on as head coach of the San Diego Legion ahead of the 2022 season, heading stateside on New Year’s Eve 2021, later than intended due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. He coached the Legion through 3 MLR seasons, including a MLR-record 15-1 regular season in 2023 where they advanced to the Championship Final, falling in the final few minutes to the New England Free Jacks. Lee held an overall record of 34-14 in the regular season, and a playoff record of 1-3. Following the Legion’s defeat to the Seattle Seawolves in the 2024 Western Conference Semifinals, San Diego announced that they had parted ways with Danny Lee.

On 29th August, 2024, the NOLA Gold announced that they had added Danny Lee as their Head Coach heading into the 2025 season, making him the 3rd coach in league history to have been Head Coach of multiple MLR teams, behind Nate Osborne (NOLA Gold & Old Glory DC) and Sam Harris (Austin Gilgronis & Chicago Hounds).

achievements

• 2023 MLR Runner-Up: San Diego Legion