Umaga re-signs for Blues

Auckland: Tana Umaga will remain at the Blues next season, signing an extension with the franchise to continue as defence coach.

Umaga, who was head coach of the Blues from 2016 to 2018, before being replaced by Leon MacDonald, will remain as part of a stable coaching set up, with MacDonald, forwards coach Tom Coventry and backs/skills coach Daniel Halangahu also confirmed for 2021.

Umaga has spent the last two season as the Blues’ defence coach and during that time they’ve looked a lot more organised with this area of their game.

Umaga, who has also coached French club Toulon and Counties Manukau in the past, could have decided to look for a head coaching job somewhere else, but has chosen to remain in Auckland.

“I enjoy my role at the Blues and I’m really pleased to carry on next year,” the 47-yearold former All Blacks captain said.

“This means I am aligned with the other coaches and I can continue to work with this maturing playing squad. “We have a strong coaching group and we enjoy feeding off each other as well as the benefit of some open and honest discussions about our game plans.”

In Super Rugby Aotearoa this season the Blues made the most tackles and there highest number of dominant tackles.

While there is still a gap between the Blues and Crusaders, this season showed that they’re at last heading in the right direction after eight years in the doldrums.

“I am thrilled that Tana will be staying with us. He has done a superb job in the development of this team as a defensive unit,” MacDonald said.

“Defence is the cornerstone of our success, not just with the alignment and communication, but our goal- line scramble defence was outstanding in terms of our system and strength of will. “A big part of that was the character and sense of purpose that Tana has played a major part in developing with this squad.”