New coach needed
Taranaki Rugby is looking for a new forwards coach after the departure of Paul Tito, who has taken up a role with Pau in France.
An advert for his role was placed on job hunting website Seek on Thursday. The Taranaki Rugby Football Union is also looking for an academy manager.
Tito’s departure comes after a disappointing season for the Taranaki Bulls, who were relegated from the premiership and struggled to attract crowds to games because of earthquake issues with the stands at Yarrow Stadium.
Tito, who was known as Fish, played 100 games for Taranaki and Super Rugby for the Chiefs and Hurricanes and was part of the Bulls’ coaching staff under Colin Cooper and current head coach Willie Rickards.
According to the L’equipe website Tito arrived in France in late November and was committed to the end of the season.
In a Facebook post last Monday, Taranaki Rugby thanked Tito for his contribution.
‘‘We wish ‘Fish’ and his family all the best with their new adventure with Pau Rugby in France,’’ it read.
The union would not provide further comment on Tito’s departure. A review of the team’s season was carried out last year but the results will not be released publicly.
At Pau, Tito joins fellow Kiwi coaches Simon Mannix and Conrad Smith and players Colin Slade, Frank Halai, Tom Taylor, Benson Stanley, Peter Saili, Daniel Ramsay and Jamie Mackintosh. All Black Ben Smith has also signed a deal to play for the club after the Rugby World Cup.