THE CEO OF a Super Rugby outfit says he has approached Joe Schmidt about taking over the franchise in 2018.
Highlanders boss Roger Clark told Newstalk ZB he has made contact with the Ireland head coach, as well as other New Zealand natives coaching in the northern hemisphere.
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The news comes a day after Schmidt led Ireland to an historic win against the Springboks.
Clark says coaching the Highlanders — who are Super Rugby champions — is an opportunity to take a step towards replacing All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.
“I’ve gone round and deliberately contacted coaches like Schmidt overseas and talked to all of them to see what their thinking is around coming back to New Zealand and also coaching the Highlanders,” Clark said.
“They’re all looking at the opportunities looking towards 2019. Even though [Steve Hansen] hasn’t committed yet, they know that’s going to be the case. They’re all looking at opportunities towards there.
“They know they’ve got to be coaching Super Rugby and they know there’s not too many options in Super Rugby because we’ve got a number of coaches that are locked in until ’19 now.”
Highlanders chief says he's contacted Joe Schmidt about taking over Super Rugby heavyweights
THE CEO OF a Super Rugby outfit says he has approached Joe Schmidt about taking over the franchise in 2018.
Highlanders boss Roger Clark told Newstalk ZB he has made contact with the Ireland head coach, as well as other New Zealand natives coaching in the northern hemisphere.
The news comes a day after Schmidt led Ireland to an historic win against the Springboks.
Clark says coaching the Highlanders — who are Super Rugby champions — is an opportunity to take a step towards replacing All Blacks head coach Steve Hansen.
“I’ve gone round and deliberately contacted coaches like Schmidt overseas and talked to all of them to see what their thinking is around coming back to New Zealand and also coaching the Highlanders,” Clark said.
“They’re all looking at the opportunities looking towards 2019. Even though [Steve Hansen] hasn’t committed yet, they know that’s going to be the case. They’re all looking at opportunities towards there.
“They know they’ve got to be coaching Super Rugby and they know there’s not too many options in Super Rugby because we’ve got a number of coaches that are locked in until ’19 now.”
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