Blackadder off to take Bath
RUGBY: When the power brokers from Bath learned Tabai Matson was looking for work, they asked if he fancied joining Todd Blackadder at the English premiership club.
Deal done. On Thursday it was confirmed the pair, who bowed out of their jobs coaching the Crusaders when the side lost the Super Rugby quarterfinal to the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend, had signed with Bath.
Blackadder is contracted for three years to work as the director of rugby, Matson for four as the head coach.
Bath had been in discussions with Blackadder, who was always going to stand down as Crusaders coach at the end of the season, for several months. When it was revealed Scott Robertson has been preferred ahead of Matson for the top position at the Crusaders, the prospect of the latter working with Blackadder at a new club was raised.
‘‘When Tabs didn’t get the job, I think they thought ‘there is a worldclass coach right there’ and they wondered if he would be interested,’’ Blackadder, who will leave Christchurch in a couple of weeks, said.
‘‘I know Tabs had a few offers on the table, and we sort of independently worked through this. I am grateful that we are going to be together, so it has worked out really well.’’
Although Blackadder’s job will involve some administrative work, he expects to spend plenty of time working with the squad on the training pitch.
Aside from living in a city rich with Roman history and famed for its architecture, Blackadder, 44, said the chance to work at a northern hemisphere team which would require a different style of play from Super Rugby held great appeal.
Returning to New Zealand either to work in Super Rugby, or for an national provincial championship side, was part of the long-term plan.