Chiefs' Coventry goes into Exile
Chiefs assistant coach Tom Coventry has become the latest to join the growing exodus from the Southern Hemisphere to the north.
Coventry will leave the Chiefs at the conclusion of the 2015 Super Rugby season to take up a role with the English Premiership side London Irish.
He is to replace the Exiles' Australian Director of Rugby Brian Smith, who announced earlier this week that he would lead the club for family reasons.
Smith has been granted early release from his contract, which was due to expire on June 30, on "compassionate grounds" and he will return to Australia.
Coventry, a former Waikato loose forward, said he will be fully focused on the Chiefs before setting his sights on the Exiles.
"I have a job to do with the Chiefs this season and will concentrate on the next phase of my career with London Irish at the end of the Super Rugby season," Coventry said in a statement on Wednesday.
"I have enjoyed my time with the Chiefs and will continue to do so until it is time to go, but I think to stay fresh as a coach it is important to immerse yourself in new environments, new challenges and experiences which is what I am going to do."
Chiefs CEO Andrew Flexman said that the franchise was fully supportive of Coventry's desire to progress his coaching career overseas but were disappointed to be losing the services of a talented coach.
"While we are sad to be losing Tom's coaching services, we would like to acknowledge his contribution to our environment and our success in his time at the Chiefs," Flexman said.
"It is an unfortunate reality that coaches of Tom's caliber are in high demand overseas and we wish he and his family every success with the next chapter in their lives."
Chiefs coach Dave Rennie believes that the move will be good for Coventry.
"Tom is an excellent coach who has been a big part of our success," Rennie said.
"He's brought a physical edge to our forward play and has the experience and knowledge to do a great job as head coach at London Irish. We wish him well."
One of Coventry's first recruits is expected to be All Blacks prop Ben Franks, with New Zealand media reporting earlier this week the 41-test veteran will leave to link up with the club after this year's World Cup in England.
Franks' 30-year-old's All Blacks teammate Jeremy Thrush has confirmed he will leave New Zealand after the global tournament, having signed a contract with Gloucester.
The lock, who will be 30 in April, was a late bloomer to the international scene and only made his Test debut in 2013. He has played 11 tests for the team since and was man of the match in their narrow win over Scotland last November.
