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Plumtree named Hurricanes coach

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Wed, 7 Mar 2018, 8:30AM
John Plumtree has been named Chris Boyd's replacement at the Hurricanes. (Photo \ Photosport)
John Plumtree has been named Chris Boyd's replacement at the Hurricanes. (Photo \ Photosport)

Plumtree named Hurricanes coach

Author
NZN,
Publish Date
Wed, 7 Mar 2018, 8:30AM

No-nonsense coach John Plumtree will lead the Hurricanes for the next three years, with Jason Holland his assistant.

In a widely-expected appointment, the experienced Plumtree has been promoted from the assistant role he has held for four years.

He takes head position of Chris Boyd, who is leaving to become director of rugby for English club Northampton.

Backs coach Holland has extended his stay for a further three seasons but the rest of the coaching staff for 2019 and beyond is still to be announced.

Taranaki-born and raised, Plumtree, 52, has forged a successful combination with Boyd, steering the Hurricanes to the 2015 final before clinching the team's maiden title a year later.

Continuing to play an exciting brand based around All Blacks playmaker Beauden Barrett, they were eliminated in the semi-finals last season.

Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee is pleased there will be a smooth transition following Boyd's departure.

"We're fortunate that someone of Plum's calibre has already been a key part of the Hurricanes environment," he said.

"Having both him and Jason at the helm will certainly ensure some important continuity and familiarity, but more importantly, we know they are a formidable coaching combination."

A former loose forward with Taranaki and Hawke's Bay, Plumtree began his coaching career with a four-year stint with Swansea in Wales.

Stints in the NPC with Wellington and with the Sharks in South Africa were followed by a brief period as Ireland's forwards coach.

He is renowned for his work with forwards but also as a defensive coach.

New Zealand Rugby general manager of rugby Neil Sorensen gave the thumbs up to the appointment of Plumtree, who becomes the sixth Hurricanes head coach after Frank Oliver, Graham Mourie, Colin Cooper, Mark Hammett and Boyd.

"New Zealand Rugby is lucky to have a home-grown coach with such vast experience in a variety of high performance rugby environments," Sorenson said.

"The Hurricanes performances over the past three years has reflected Plum's influence, especially his defensive expertise, and no doubt that will grow further as he takes the head coaching reigns."

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