Rugby: Michael Collins appointed as new Chiefs boss

Michael Collins has been appointed Chiefs boss. Photo / Brett Phibbs.

Taranaki rugby boss Michael Collins has been appointed to take over at the helm of the Chiefs, the Super Rugby franchise announced on Thursday.

Collins will take up the chief executive's role on December 18 following the departure of Andrew Flexman.

Collins, 43, has been chief executive of Taranaki Rugby since 2013 and leaves after a stellar 2017 season for Taranaki, after they won the Ranfurly Shield and were top qualifiers in the NPC premiership.

He joined Taranaki Rugby in 2008 as the union's rugby development manager and was also the national provincial championship team's scrum coach for several seasons.

Collins has also been involved in the New Zealand Rugby's respect and responsibility review sub committee, and its collective employment agreement sub committee.

He began his professional rugby career at the Chiefs in 1997, captaining the side in 1999, and playing 81 Super Rugby matches at prop.

The Chiefs have also announced two new independent director appointments to the board, Tonia Cawood and Simon Graafhuis, following the resignation of Bill Osborne and retirement of Jon Mayson earlier this year.

-AAP