A former fullback, Bourke stepped into an assistant coach role for the Bay of Plenty Steamers after plying his trade coaching club rugby. From there he took up a coaching role for Rugby United New York before returning to New Zealand to join Canterbury. After his first season as an assistant coach for the side, he was promoted to the head coach position where he took the team to the final.
Off the back of this success, Bourke was named as an assistant coach for the 2023 New Zealand U20s. Later that year, Bourke’s Canterbury team made it to Bunnings NPC playoffs again, however, bowed out to Taranaki in the semi-final.
Bourke joined the Gallagher Chiefs as an assistant coach in 2023 ahead of the 2024 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season.