Rugby: Candidates line up for Chiefs job

By CHRIS RATTUE

John Boe and Mac McCallion will chase the Chiefs coaching position, with Kevin Greene set to join them today.

Ross Cooper, the Chiefs coach for three seasons, announced his resignation yesterday to become a New Zealand Rugby Football Union resource coach. Cooper, an NZRFU staff coach since 1984, had another year left on his contract.

His Chiefs replacement will be appointed within a month, with John Mitchell also touted as a candidate, although the former England assistant is coy about his intentions.

The NZRFU are giving franchises increased appointment power, and the four-person Chiefs interview panel will have just one NZRFU representative.

Chiefs chief executive Gary Dawson's only pledge is that no overseas coach will be considered. However, the signals are that someone from within the franchise area will be appointed.

It was a classic case of Cooper jumping before he was pushed; the former All Black selector will have seen the writing on the wall after the Chiefs again failed to challenge for the Super 12 title.

Under Cooper they finished seventh and sixth, then crashed to 10th this year, winning three from 11 games and ending 12 points adrift of a semifinal place.

While Dawson said blame had to be shared, they were results from which no coach could expect to survive in the country which has dominated the competition.

Former Waikato and Counties coaches Boe and McCallion, who have been Super 12 assistants, will apply. Cooper's assistant Greene will reveal his intentions today.

Cooper's departure put Greene out of a job, but he wants to remain a Super 12 coach.

Greene, a backs specialist who coached in Scotland for three seasons, will talk with allies and probably look for a running mate.

"I'll definitely apply for one of the jobs and maybe I'll have a go for the top job," he said.

Greene was critical of the time it has taken for the NZRFU to conduct the Super 12 reviews, saying it left coaches in limbo and had put the Chiefs' planning on the back foot.

"To be fair to everyone, they could have done it two or three weeks after the Super 12 ended in May," he said.

"It is a difficult year for the Chiefs and the later they leave it the more difficult it gets."

Boe, who was on loan as Samoa's coach this year, shied away from comments about his prospects, saying he wanted to steer clear of the "politics."

McCallion, who has been working as a helicopter logger in the South Island, said: "I've enjoyed the break but it's time I got back into it."

Mitchell, a Waikato rugby development officer, said: "I haven't even thought about the Chiefs job. I haven't spoken to anyone and no one has approached me.

"Professional coaching is my future but whether it is in the Super 12, I'm not sure. The right structures, resources, staff, would have to be in place."

The Chiefs review was carried out by Dawson, franchise chairman Ivan Haines from King Country, and former All Black captains John Graham and Brian Lochore. The NZRFU are still completing their other franchise reviews.

Consultants Sheffield will handle the initial applications for the Chiefs job. A committee of one NZRFU representative, Dawson, a Chiefs board member - preferably with a strong rugby background - and a leading independent rugby identity chosen by the franchise will interview the candidates and make recommendations.

On Cooper's departure, Dawson said:

"We are disappointed in the results and Ross has to shoulder some of the responsibility.

"But he should not be the fall guy. The blame has to be shared and there are a number of things we, as a franchise, are looking to do better."

Cooper's new job will have a strong emphasis on the NPC second and third divisions, and Oceania rugby.

The four front runners for the Chiefs job in 2001:

Kevin Greene (age 50)

* Non test All Black 1976/77, 8 matches

* Waikato halfback 1969-1980

* Waikato coach 1992-94, won title '92

* Chiefs assistant to coach Ross Cooper this year


John Boe (age 45)

* Non test All Black 1891, 2 matches

* 136-game Waikato forst fove-eighths

* Waikato coach – 6th, 6th, semifinal and final

* Chiefs assistant 1997 to Brad Meurant


John Mitchell (age 36)

* Non test All Black 1993, 6 matches

* Long-time Waikato No 8 and captain

* Former assistant England coach

* Waikato development officer


Mac McCallion (age 49)

* Counties forward 1970's-80

* 5-year Counties coach – 2 finals, 1 semifinal

* Blues assistant to Graham Henry – 2 titles

* Blues assistant to Jed Rowland 1999