Schmidt won't be returning to BOP

1.00pm

Bay of Plenty rugby assistant coach Joe Schmidt has poured cold water on any talk he'll be back with the province next year.

Schmidt is moving to Auckland next month to join Peter Sloane and David Nucifora at the Blues for the next Super 12 season after helping Bay of Plenty finish third in the NPC.

But any thoughts Schmidt entertained of returning in May for another season with the Steamers have been laid to rest.

"My preference would be to come back and help coach Bay of Plenty but that's just not practical," Schmidt said, adding that his wife Kelly and their four children played a major role in the decision.

"To be practical we'll be shifting to Auckland -- it wouldn't be fair to spend six months up there and six months down here."

The former Manawatu wing signed as an assistant coach with the Blues last month and also signed a contract with the Auckland Rugby Union to help as a resource coach.

Auckland have been chasing Schmidt for some time and he turned down a chance to work with their NPC team late last year.

That was motivated largely by both loyalty and a sense of unfinished business.

"People are still saying to me 'great season but it will be tough next season'.

"The thing that really annoys me is that's what they were saying last year when the All Blacks weren't there. We played teams this year that were stacked with All Blacks and we were competitive.

"That's one of the key reasons I didn't go to Auckland last year. I thought to finish between sixth and seventh would be another successful year and to get third was just a dream.

"Again next year, a realistic target is to aim for fifth or sixth and if the momentum can be gathered the semis are still a totally realistic opportunity."

- NZPA

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