SHANE HURNDELL
New Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby coach Peter Russell wants a Super 14 job in the future.
"This is where I want to be at this stage in my career path," he said.
"In a couple of years time I want a Super 14 appointment and we'll see what happens after that,"
Russell, 44, said after his Kelt Capital Magpies appointment was confirmed this morning.
The 2006 Heartland XV coach said a quarterfinal berth is his goal with the Kelt Capital Magpies in the Air New Zealand Cup this year.
"A couple of disappointing games cost the Magpies a spot last year. There's room for improvement and there are a few spots I'm keen to fill with new players," he said.
Russell will finalise his support staff next week and is keen to retain assistant coach George Konia, manager Dave Stevenson and trainer Grant Dearns.
He coached Wairarapa Bush to title honours in last year's inaugural Heartland Championship with a 16-14 win over Wanganui in the final and back-to-back division three titles in 2004 and 2005.
"Peter has built a coaching CV that involves extensive club and provincial coaching experience over 12 years and he has an impressive track record of success at each level," Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union CEO Mike Bishop said.
As a Wellington under-19 and colts coach from 1995-99 Russell recorded 38 wins from 41 games. He then coached Marist St Pats to the Wellington premier club title in three of the four years he was in charge between 1999 and 2002. Russell was one of 16 applicants for the job. Also shortlisted were world champion Black Ferns women's coach Jed Rowlands, former Wellington assistant coach Chris Boyd and New Zealand Secondary Schools coach Tom Coventry.
"The Hawke's Bay Rugby Football Union board is very aware that the challenge faced in being successful in the Air New Zealand Cup competition is a significant one and a robust appointment process has been undertaken to find the best available head coach," union chairman Richard Hunt said.
A family man with two teenage daughters, Russell, will be in Hawke's Bay's fulltime from the end of February. One of his daughters, Kaitlin, is a goalie in the New Zealand Future Black Sticks hockey training squad.
He replaces Brendon Ratcliffe who coached the side last year and in 2005.
Employment issues between Ratcliffe and the union were resolved earlier this month and he is pursuing further career opportunities.
SHANE HURNDELL
New Hawke's Bay Magpies rugby coach Peter Russell wants a Super 14 job in the future.
"This is where I want to be at this stage in my career path," he said.
"In a couple of years time I want a Super 14 appointment and we'll see what happens after that,"
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