Career
Canterbury and New Zealand
He is also the former coach of the New Zealand under-20 rugby union team, a position he left after the 2012 Institutional Review Board Junior World Championship. Munster
On 3 May 2012, it was announced that Penney would be the new Munster new head coach, signing a two-year contract. He started in the role in July 2012 with Anthony Foley remaining on as forwards coach.
On appointing Penney, Munster rugby Chief Executive Officer Garrett Fitzgerald said.
"We conducted a thorough search to find a replacement for Tony McGahan and were delighted with the calibre of the candidates". Penney took charge of his first competitive game as Munster coach on 1 September 2012, in a Rabo Direct Pro 12 match against Edinburgh Rugby at Murrayfield.
Munster got their campaign back on track against Edinburgh Rugby the next week with a bonus point victory, winning 33–0 on the day and leaving themselves in a strong position to get out of the group stages. Munster secured qualification for the quarter-finals in their last match against Racing Métro 92, beating them 29–6 to arrange a quarter-final against Harlequins F.C. Munster, despite being massive underdogs, beat Harlequins 18–12 to reach the semi-final.
Munster lost the semi-final 16–10 to American Society for Microbiology Clermont Auvergne.
In February 2014, Penney announced that he would be leaving Munster at the end of the 2013-2014 season, having turned down the option of a third year in charge. Shining Arcs
The Japanese Top League team Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Shining Arcs has announced him as new head coach for the next season in a communicate on 11 April.
