Rugby: Haig takes key role at Counties

Milton Haig has been promoted to the role of director of rugby for the Counties Manukau Rugby Union for the next two seasons.

Haig was head coach for the union last year, but his new position will have him also overseeing the high performance and elite development operations.

Things can only get better - Counties Manukau finished 13th out of 14 teams in last year's Air NZ Cup.

Former Wanganui coach Haig is a former assistant coach of the New Zealand colts and last year assisted Donny Stevenson in coaching the New Zealand Maori team.

"This is a fantastic opportunity," Haig said in a statement.

"We have unfinished business from the 2008 season and I am looking forward working with the majority of last years team building on the good work already done by these talented guys.

"We blooded 18 new players into Air New Zealand Cup last year so this year we are all excited about achieving better results."

- NZPA