Plumtree in Hurricanes shake-up?
SUPER RUGBY SPOTLIGHT: The departure of John Plumtree from the Hurricanes, after just one season as head coach, seems a fait accompli.
The Hurricanes revealed that Chief Executive Avan Lee and members of the coaching staff will host a media briefing in Wellington on Thursday.
This sparked speculation in the New Zealand media that a new head coach will be unveiled – to replace Plumtree, who is likely to join new All Black coach Ian Foster’s national team panel.
According to the Stuff website Jason Holland, one of Plumtree’s trusted assistants last year, is expected to be promoted to head coach – with Chris Gibbes as his assistant.
The New Zealand Herald has taken it a step further, suggesting that Holland and Gibbes will be ‘co-coaches’ in 2020.
According to reports quoting Lee the Hurricanes are set to find the replacement from inside the current set-up.
“Obviously we’ve got some good coaches already, and realistically to go to the market now for a competition that’s already in it’s pre-season would be incredibly difficult,” Lee was quoted as saying by Stuff.
“There are people on the market, but to bring someone in cold would be pretty challenging, and like I said we’ve got some really good people who are already here, been through planning and known by the team.”
Plumtree’s departure will result in the need for an additional assistant to work alongside Holland, Gibbes, Carlos Spencer and Dan Cron.
The Herald reported that negotiations between the Hurricanes and New Zealand Rugby, who pay the salaries of the head coach and one assistant, are on-going.
Sources: Stuff & NZ Herald
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