Rugby: Manawatu coach O'Halloran heads to Scotland

Jason O'Halloran believes his move overseas will help his chances of being involved in a future All Blacks coaching staff. Photo / Getty Images.

Jason O'Halloran believes his move overseas will help his chances of being involved in a future All Blacks coaching staff.

The Manawatu head coach is off to Scotland at the end of the ITM Cup season, to be an assistant coach for the national side.

O'Halloran says working with head coach Vern Cotter is a smart career move

"I just felt in terms of being the best coach I can be, working with Vern is a way of getting there. It's not a snub on New Zealand rugby."

"If you talk to people around who they think a potential successor is for Steve Hansen, the two names I always hear are Dave Rennie and Vern Cotter."

New Zealand Rugby never made contact with him, though O'Halloran says he's "just a little fish at this stage beavering away. I'm not privy to a lot of those sorts of conversations."

It's a big loss not only for Manawatu rugby - last year's title was their first since 1980 - but also New Zealand. He has been with the Turbos for eight years, three as head coach, and will see out this year's ITM Cup.

He turned down a skills role with the Hurricanes earlier this year and had been talked about as an option for another Super Rugby franchise.

The Blues' coaching saga has once again highlighted the dearth of coaching options in this country.

Warren Gatland (Wales), Joe Schmidt (Ireland) and Cotter are all overseas, as is Robbie Deans (Panasonic in Japan).

Former Counties coach Milton Haig has taken Georgia ahead of Italy in the world rankings and sparked rumblings that the eastern European nation is ready to join the Six Nations.

Former All Blacks flanker Jono Gibbes has carved out a name for himself, firstly with Leinster and now with Clermont, and Chiefs assistant Tom Coventry is joining London Irish after this Super Rugby campaign.