Hammett to quit Highlanders

Mark Hammett’s time at the Highlanders is coming to an end but the franchise is not looking for a replacement as the commercial realities of the post-Covid-19 era hit home.

The assistant coach said yesterday Super Rugby Aotearoa would be his last campaign with the side, after four years in Dunedin.

‘‘I’m going to move on,’’ said Hammett. ‘‘I let Rog [Highlanders CEO Roger Clark] and Azza [coach Aaron Mauger] know that at the end of November.

‘‘In terms of what does that look like, there’s been no decisions on

Mark Hammett on life with the Highlanders

what I will do. I love coaching and mentoring and that side of it. I’ll do something but the decision hasn’t been made yet.’’

Hammett has spent four years at the Highlanders and in normal circumstances his departure would create a coaching vacancy at the franchise, but with rugby still reeling from the effects of the coronavirus the Highlanders could well operate with a skinnier

coaching crew in 2021.

‘‘We’re not looking to replace at this stage,’’ Clark told Stuff.

The Highlanders welcomed back crowds to Forsyth Barr Stadium in round one of Super Rugby Aotearoa but it’s clear that it will take more than that to get rugby back on its feet.

After head coaching stints with the Hurricanes, Cardiff and Sunwolves, Hammett slotted into an assistant coaching role with the Highlanders in 2017.

The former All Blacks hooker said it was a ‘‘tough’’ decision to leave the Highlanders but felt comfortable with the decision.

‘‘I felt it was the right time for family,’’ Hammett said.

‘‘As we all know coaching is a pretty transient sort of business, which is also an exciting thing.’’

Hammett’s exit will open the door for Clarke Dermody to take on a more prominent role at the Highlanders, something he has already been doing this year.

Dermody’s specialist area is the set piece but at the start of the campaign he also did some work on the defence with Mauger.

Dermody, who is contracted for another two years, also holds a cocoaching role at Tasman and is well placed to step up after Hammett’s exit.

Mauger is off contract at the end of the season but is keen to extend his stay with the Highlanders.

Hammett said he would leave Dunedin with fond memories after quickly settling into life in the Deep South.

‘‘I loved it,’’ he said. ‘‘It’s probably the easiest city to fit into.

‘‘It’s a small, passionate community that gets behind you.

‘‘It’s always a tough decision when you leave anywhere.

‘‘You get very tight with the group but that was the decision, and we’re comfortable with that.’’

‘‘It’s a small, passionate community that gets behind you.’’