Bryn Gatland’s Chiefs offer kept secret from his dad
Warren Gatland had no involvement in bringing Bryn Gatland to the Chiefs. In fact, he didn’t even know the franchise was in talks with his son.
As reported by Stuff last month, Gatland junior will head home to Hamilton for Super Rugby next season, with the Chiefs confirming the 25-year-old first five-eighth’s three-year signing.
Off contract at the Highlanders, where he was behind Josh Ioane and Mitch Hunt, Gatland saw an opportunity too good to turn down when approached by the Chiefs, who were losing Aaron Cruden to Japanese club Kobe.
While Gatland senior is handing the coaching reins to Clayton McMillan for 2021, while leading the British and Irish Lions to South Africa, he has still been involved in the team’s recruitment, considering he will be back in charge for the following two seasons.
However, he wasn’t for this unique situation – to guard against any potential nepotism – with Bryn Gatland telling Stuff yesterday that he was actually able to surprise the old man with news of his potential move.
‘‘He found out after I did,’’ he said. ‘‘I told him that I’d been contacted by Michael Collins, the CEO of the Chiefs, and that they were interested in getting me back up home.
‘‘Obviously when I told him that, he was excited for me, but also he said it was good that they left him completely out of it and he didn’t want any decision making around who they were going to sign in that area.
‘‘But when he heard that they were keen, obviously he talked to Clayton, and [two of the assistant coaches] Roger Randle and David Hill – those are the guys who would have had to make a decision around whether they wanted me next year or not.
‘‘Once it all got signed off he was just really excited for me, knowing the journey that I’ve had to take to get back to this point in my career.’’
A star in his days at Hamilton
‘‘Once it all got signed off he was just really excited for me.’’
Bryn Gatland on father Warren
Boys’ High School, Gatland spent one season with Waikato in 2015 before shifting to North Harbour for his provincial footy, where he starred this year as the Mitre 10 Cup’s top points scorer.
In Super Rugby, after being temporary injury cover at the Crusaders in early 2017, there were two seasons at the Blues and two at the Highlanders, but Gatland said it would be ‘‘a childhood dream come true’’ when he gets to pull the Chiefs jersey on.
‘‘Sometimes it’s just a different route you have to take in life,’’ he said.
‘‘I really enjoyed my time down south with the Highlanders – it was a great place to be, and great people and stuff – but being able to be back home was awesome.’’
Such is his tactical nous, expert goalkicking and ability to stand up in clutch moments – no better illustrated than that late drop goal which sunk his dad’s Chiefs in the first round of Super Rugby Aotearoa this year – Gatland will shape as the frontrunner for the No 10 jersey, but is under no illusions that he’ll walk in and command a start.
‘‘I’ve got to work hard and prove myself,’’ he said. ‘‘But I’m ready for that challenge.’’
While there will be one season with Dad not running the show, Gatland said he was also prepared for what would be a first for him, having never been coached by his father, even in the junior ranks.
The pair often exchange ideas when watching games together, but Gatland junior would like to think there’s no awkwardness when it does go a step further.
‘‘I’m actually looking forward to it, and seeing what he’s like in an environment like that, because obviously I’ve only had him in a one-on-one situation,’’ he said.
‘‘I’ve got no issues challenging him as a coach and he’s got no issues challenging me as a player, as it should be to help the team environment.’’