Brown may give up top job at Highlanders in 2022
Tony Brown has made the surprise admission that he would be happy to give up the head coach role in 2022 if Clarke Dermody displays the ‘‘master’s touch’’ during the upcoming Super Rugby TransTasman competition.
Brown will miss the entire sixweek competition against the five Australian Super Rugby sides after revealing he will head to Japan next Wednesday to prepare the Brave Blossoms for their one-off test against the British and Irish Lions in late June.
That has left the Highlanders, who are already dealing with an injury crisis, with an awkward situation to deal with but Brown admitted yesterday that should Dermody flourish in the head coaching position over the next few months there could be a reversal of their current roles in 2022.
‘‘I’m sure he will do a great job,’’ Brown said. ‘‘He’s a Highlanders head coach in the future. I’m happy to let him continue as head coach for sure if he’s got the master touch. I think that’s really important.
‘‘I’ve always been the guy who will do whatever for the team. So, whatever happens, happens.’’
Brown will still play a role with the Highlanders while on duty as Japan’s attack coach alongside Jamie Joseph, a spell that will initially involve two weeks of selfisolating upon arrival in Japan.
He will put together the Highlanders’ game plans and review games, but he has effectively handed over the day to day reins to Dermody, who was already being groomed to take over at the Highlanders when Brown’s contract runs out at the end of 2022.
Brown said he had ‘‘100 per cent’’ faith in Dermody and revealed that he took on the Highlanders head
coaching role in part because Dermody was already busy with Tasman’s provincial campaign in 2021.
‘‘He’s a head coach with Tasman, and he understands the head coaching job, and he’s capable of doing it,’’ Brown said.
‘‘For me, I’m comfortable with ‘Derms’ as head coach and myself as assistant as well. I’m not really too concerned around who takes the head role. He’s definitely capable and I enjoy doing it as well. So whatever will be, will be.’’
Dermody has been co-head coach of Tasman for the past two years, winning two titles alongside Andrew Goodman, but he will not return to the Mako this year, potentially freeing him up to take the head coaching role at the Highlanders.
In the short term, the Highlanders will at least have the services of form No 8 Kazuki Himeno. Brown’s departure has raised fear the Japanese star would also be lost during the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman competition, but Brown said Himeno would be available for it all and would then fly to Scotland to meet up with the Japanese side.
The situation highlights Brown’s unique contractual status. He is employed by the Highlanders and the Japanese Rugby Football Union, not New Zealand Rugby like the other Super Rugby coaches.
However, as Japan were his employers before he took the Highlanders job – and Brown needed their blessing to take on the Super Rugby role – it appears that Japanese commitments were always going to take priority in the event of a clash.
‘‘I’ve had good conversations with ‘Rog’ [Highlanders CEO Roger Clark] around my commitment to Japan,’’ Brown said. ‘‘He understands that, and he understood that when he signed me on as Highlanders coach.’’
In a statement, Clark said the ‘‘situation ...doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone’’ but had faith in Dermody guide the side through the games against the Australians.
‘‘No one could have predicted it would come to this, due to the pandemic the Lions tour itinerary has been completely up in the air for the better part of a year,’’ Clark said.
‘‘The way it has worked out means Brownie’s international obligations suddenly overlap with his Sky Super Rugby duties which obviously is a situation that doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone.
‘‘However, as an organisation we know we still have his services even though he is not on the ground with us, we have every faith in Clarke and the coaching and management group to deal with the challenge.’’
Brown said telling the Highlanders’ players had been a difficult conversation.
‘‘It was tough telling the players, especially the leaders,’’ he said. ‘‘We’ve put a lot of effort into this campaign.’’
The Highlanders start their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign with a tough home game against the Reds on Friday week.