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Brian "Bluey" McClennan (born 16 February 1962) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer and coach. He was previously the head coach of the New Zealand national team (with whom he won the 2005 Tri-nations) and then England's Leeds Rhinos club (with whom he won the 2008 and 2009 Super League championships).
McClennan also coached the Exiles team in the inaugural International Origin match in 2011 before being appointed head coach of National Rugby League club, the New Zealand Warriors but failing to complete the first season of his contract. McClennan is the son of former St. Helens coach Mike McClennan. Brian McClennan Q&A BBC Sport 26 May 2006
McClennan also represented Auckland and in what was to be his final representative game he captained the province to a win over the touring Great Britain side. However he played for Auckland again, including in the Rugby League Cup challenge against Canterbury in 1994. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.164
In 1994, while player-coach at the Hibiscus Coast Raiders he played several games for the North Harbour Sea Eagles. Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994, New Zealand Rugby Football League, 1994. p.102
He coached the Hibiscus Coast Raiders and Mt Albert Lions to championships in the Bartercard Cup, and was then assistant coach for the Kiwis under Daniel Anderson. NZ coach seeking glory to leave adversity behind Sydney Morning Herald 14 October 2005
Despite this, his appointment in June 2005 as national coach of New Zealand was controversial, mainly because he had no top-level experience in Australia or Super League. However, he led New Zealand to an upset triumph in the 2005 Tri-Nations series. New Zealand won the series final against Australia 24–0 at Elland Road, England. It was Australia's first defeat in a series or tournament since 1978. The margin equalled Australia's biggest ever losing margin.
In 2006, he coached the Auckland Lions to the minor premiership in the Bartercard Cup. However the Kiwis lost both mid-season tests to the Kangaroos and Lions. That year he received the Rugby League International Federation's coach of the year award. In 2007 he served as Director of Football to help the Auckland Lions prepare for their entrance into the NSWRL Premier League before leaving to concentrate on the Kiwis for the rest of the season. Auckland Lions Sky TV, 2007 In mid-2007 reports emerged that he was looking for a job in the National Rugby League. Bluey sets sight s on NRL coaching job infonews.co.nz, 27 May 2007
The following year he achieved the same feat, beating St Helens 18–10 in the 2009 Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.
He coached Leeds to the 2010 Challenge Cup Final defeat by the Warrington Wolves at Wembley Stadium.
McClennan resigned after 2010's Super League XV, returning to New Zealand and working for the Auckland Rugby League as their development and coaching manager.
In 2011, McClennan was announced as the first coach of the Exiles, a team made up of Australian and New Zealand players contracted to Super League clubs. The Exiles defeated England in June in the first International Origin Match, a fixture intended to become an annual contest.
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