VRA Welcomes Former New Zealand Professional Jonny Bentley to the Elite Coaching Roster

[ST. PETERSBURG, FL – March 4th, 2026] – The Virtual Rugby Academy (VRA) is proud to announce the addition of former New Zealand professional fly-half Jonny Bentley to its global coaching roster.

Bentley’s arrival brings over a decade of top-flight experience to the VRA platform. Known throughout the rugby world for a career defined by tactical precision and elite-level game management, JB transitions from the professional pitch to the Academy to deconstruct the technical details that separate amateur players from elite playmakers.

Bentley moved from his home country of New Zealand to the UK in 2009, where he forged his career in the top flight of European rugby with high-stakes stints across the UK. In 2015, he returned to the relentless pace of the Southern Hemisphere, playing for his home province and childhood team, Wellington, in the Mitre 10 Cup (NPC). He returned to the UK, and later, Spain to finish his playing career and transition to coaching.

His professional resume includes stints with the Cornish Pirates, Gloucester Rugby, Jersey Reds, Wellington Lions and Ealing Trailblazers. Throughout his career, JB was recognized for his clinical distribution and his rare ability to "solve" complex defensive systems—a skill set that made him a cornerstone of every backline he led.

Bentley has emerged as a premier voice in modern rugby education. His Instagram profile (@rugby_iq) has become a digital resource for athletes seeking high-performance drills, tips and tricks–a preview into what he’ll bring to VRA.

“Rugby has been so good to me and given me experiences I'll never forget. I've been fortunate to have some amazing teammates and coaches along the way,” says JB. “I want to share all that I was able to learn to the next generation of players and, equally importantly, to the coaches bringing those players through. I look forward to teaching attacking strategy and analysis as well as developing core rugby skills—especially ball handling and kicking—for VRA.”

About Virtual Rugby Academy 

The Virtual Rugby Academy (VRA) is the world’s first global digital rugby academy. VRA provides direct access to elite coaching and mentorship, breaking down geographical barriers to democratize world-class rugby expertise for players, coaches, and clubs globally.