Mooloo man back
Former Waikato captain Jono Gibbes has been appointed as the new head coach of Waikato for the
2018 Mitre 10 Cup.
Gibbes, 41, will return to New Zealand at the conclusion of the Guinness PRO 14 season in Europe, where he is currently the head coach of Ulster.
Gibbes moved to Europe in 2008 when appointed as the forwards coach of Leinster. During his time there, he helped coach the side to three Heineken Cup titles.
In 2014 Gibbes joined the coaching team at French side Clermont Auvergne, helping to guide them to a Top 14 title in 2017 before returning to Ireland to become head coach of Ulster.
Gibbes takes over from Sean Botherway, who had one year to run on his contract but paid the price for Waikato being relegated from the top flight of the NPC last year for the first time in more than
20 years.
‘‘For me, it is an honour to have the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of previous Waikato coaches, who all contributed to the proud history of the province,’’ Gibbes said in a media release.
‘‘With the opportunity comes the responsibility to do the colours justice. That has to be the first objective for myself and for the 2018 team,’’ said Gibbes, who played 64 games for the province between 2000 and 2007.
Waikato CEO Blair Foote said Gibbes brings a wealth of experience and successful coaching knowledge, gained over the last 10 years in the European competitions.
‘‘And being a former player for the province, he also brings an understanding of the pride and passion playing in a red, yellow and black jersey requires.
‘‘It is great to have a coach of his calibre rejoining the Waikato set up, and we look forward to working with Jono as he puts his unique stamp on the Mitre 10 Cup in 2018 and beyond.’’
Waikato’s relegation from the Mitre 10 Cup premiership prompted the Waikato Rugby Union (WRU) late last year to conduct a thorough independent review to ‘‘re-evaluate the organisation’s high performance rugby from the board downwards’’.
Foote said they would have considered a similar review had the Mooloos remained in the top tier of provincial rugby.
But dropping to the championship after losing a record seven straight matches ‘‘was the last straw’’ as Waikato tumbled down to the second tier for the first time since 1986.
Botherway said late last year he ‘‘100 per cent’’ wanted to remain Waikato coach despite their relegation in his third season at the helm, but Foote said last October that the review would decide if the union needed to change personnel.