Mitchell rejects role with Chiefs
John Mitchell reportedly rejected the chance to come home and rejoin the Chiefs in a coaching position where he could have taken charge in Chiefs coach Warren Gatland’s absence in 2021.
Mitchell, the former All Blacks coach, re-signed with England’s Rugby Football Union on a two-year deal before this year’s World Cup to remain England defence coach through to 2021.
Gatland will officially start with the Chiefs on December 3 after signing a four-year deal through to 2023, albeit with a year-long break for the 2021 Super Rugby season when he leads the British and Irish Lions for a third time in South Africa.
Mitchell and Gatland are former Waikato team-mates and the old Hamilton housemates have since clashed in their respective coaching careers – recently when Gatland’s former Wales side has faced England, who are coached by Eddie Jones, with Mitchell an assistant under the Australian coach since last year.
Gatland’s 2021 sabbatical with the Lions leaves the Chiefs without a coach for that year. Chiefs CEO Michael Collins last week said the Hamilton-based franchise had not figured out who would step in for Gatland, who is contracted to return to for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
His Hamilton homecoming has not triggered much change among the Chiefs assistants, with David Hill the only new coach joining incumbents Neil Barnes,
Tabai Matson, Roger Randle, Nick White and Andrew Strawbridge, who were all retained but in altered roles.
Mitchell was Chiefs coach from 2000-01 before taking the All Blacks job through to the 2003 World Cup and he revealed he was offered a role back in New Zealand, but the former Waikato forward chose to stay with England.
‘‘When I got the opportunity for the two years to stay with England there was also an opportunity to go back home, back to New Zealand, as well,’’ Mitchell told the New Zealand Herald.
‘‘It was with the Chiefs. With Gats [Gatland] having to do the Lions as well in that sabbatical they were going to need a head coach. It was going to be more of an assistant role but moving into the head coach for that particular window.
‘‘Emotionally it felt really good but sitting down with family and looking through it I’ve made the right decision at this time in my career,’’ he told the New Zealand Herald.
The All Blacks job is also available with Steve Hansen stepping down after the World Cup semifinal loss to England and New Zealand Rugby has invited 26 coaches to apply for the vacant position.
Gatland has since ruled himself out but confirmed he was asked to apply. Mitchell’s commitment to England has also ruled him out of contention with the leading candidates to replace Hansen thought to be Ian Foster, Scott Robertson, Dave Rennie and Jamie Joseph.