Matson to assist Cooper at Chiefs?

Tabai Matson could be a candidate to re-ignite his coaching career in New Zealand by joining the Chiefs.

Former Crusaders assistant coach Matson, who this week announced he would leave his post as head coach at English Premiership club Bath and return to New Zealand, may be an option to assist new Chiefs coach Colin Cooper at the Super Rugby club from next year.

Cooper, who will begin his job at the Chiefs in an official capacity after completing his duties with Taranaki in the Mitre 10 Cup, is already familiar with how Matson operates after they worked together with the New Zealand Maori team in 2013-15. Cooper was head coach and Matson his assistant.

All head coaches like to handpick their lieutenants, and given their recent history, the concept of them working together at the Chiefs, a club considered to be the Crusaders’ arch-rivals, has merit.

Matson also operated under Todd Blackadder at the Crusaders between 2013-16, having previously guided Canterbury to a title in 2012.

If Matson joined the Chiefs he would likely complete Cooper’s coaching team for next season. Cooper, the replacement for Dave Rennie who is now employed by the Scottish club Glasgow Warriors, has been searching for a defence coach to work alongside incumbent assistants Neil Barnes (forwards) and Andrew Strawbridge (backline).

Both are understood to be nego- tiating contract renewals.

Given Blackadder had employed Matson as a defensive coach for several seasons, the latter is well versed in the art of what is sometimes described as organised chaos mixed with aggression.

When Blackadder was in negotiations for the director of coaching job at Bath in the final year of his contract, Matson applied for the top post at the Crusaders but missed out to Scott Robertson.

The decision to quit his job at Bath after about 13 months in the role was because Matson wanted himself and his family to be near to his mother, and mother-in-law, who were in poor health.

A return to the Crusaders wasn’t feasible, given the title holders would have their coaching team, again headed by Robertson, back next season. This includes Leon MacDonald, Jason Ryan and Brad Mooar. The Latter has renegotiated a deal to stay until the end of the 2019 season.

This is a period of great change for the Chiefs.

Last month chief executive Andrew Flexman resigned after four years in the job, while a number of experienced players, including All Blacks first five-eighth Aaron Cruden, either left to join overseas clubs, play elsewhere in New Zealand or were looking at other options. Assistant coach Kieran Keane has also joined Irish club Connacht.

Bath have confirmed Matson would return to New Zealand after the team’s third-round clash against Northampton on September 15.