LANGLEY, B.C. – Former Canadian international rugby flanker Adam Kleeberger is the latest high-profile rugby star to join Trinity Western University's men's and women's rugby programs coaching staff for this Fall.
 
Kleeberger joins Trinity Western as a defence coach, having earned 38 caps for Canada, 33 of which he started. He starred in two World Cups, 2007 and 2011, and played professionally for Rotherham (England), Auckland (New Zealand), and London (England), between 2009-2012. 
 
"It's beyond what I could imagine, to have somebody of Kleeberger's caliber join the Spartans in just the second year of the program," says Andrew Evans, TWU's Director of Rugby. "He's one of Canada's most recognizable rugby icons, but he doesn't ever seek attention for himself."
 
After retiring from professional rugby in 2015, Kleeberger took on a role as Strength and Conditioning coach at the Canadian Sports Institute at the Pacific Institute of Sports Excellence in Victoria, working alongside various rowing and mountain biking teams. Then in 2017, Kleeberger joined on with the inaugural Rugby Canada Development Academy in Langford, B.C., as the programs lead Strength and Conditioning coach.
 
"Adam will work with all of our players on top of our contact skills on both sides of the ball," Evans says. "He's outstanding with breakdown work and defensive structures, so that's what we're looking for from him.
 
"Kleeberger's magnetic because he's such a great man and a great rugby player, in both sevens and 15s. He leads by example, as the way he conducted himself as a player with Rugby Canada is just another professional example for our players to look up to."
 
Kleeberger drew worldwide attention at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand as a member of Canada's 'beardos', a trio of Canadian rugby internationals who sported mountainous beards for the tournament. The Spartans now have two-thirds of the 'beardos' on their coaching staff, with Kleeberger joining Spartans forwards coach Hubert Buydens, who joined TWU's staff in 2019 and works as a forward's coach.
 
"Some of the things Andy and I have talked about is a program that focuses on developing people as well as athletes," Kleeberger said. "We want to give them opportunities within rugby, but the bigger piece for Andy and I is that they leave the program in a place more ready for the world."
 
Kleeberger played collegiate rugby at the University of Victoria, and holds a degree in Kinesiology. His international debut for Canada came on Nov. 12, 2005, against France. His experience also extends to representing Canada at the U19, U21, and sevens sides. 
 
The Spartans now have an immensely decorated coaching contingent. With Kleeberger joining the fold, alongside Buydens, Guiseppe Du Toit, and Julie Sugawara, TWU boasts four coaches with world cup experience, and a collective 156 international caps and counting. 
 
Kleeberger will also continue work for Canada's Rugby program in a talent-identification role, leading a team of 50+ scouts across Canada in search of elite athletes and rugby players to represent Canada on the rugby stage internationally.
 
"My role with Rugby Canada is to identify players, but after we do that, we need to find ways to develop them as well," Kleeberger said. "Luckily we are in a good place with the university systems in place to do that."
 
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 12 U SPORTS team championships and 29 Canada West team championships.
 
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