After a tumultuous two years coaching at the Blues, Sir John Kirwan resigned today. Photo / Getty Images.
After three tumultuous years coaching the Blues, Sir John Kirwan resigned today. We chart his successes and his failures.
Read more: John Kirwan stands down as Blues coach
Saturday 23 February 2013: The John Kirwan coaching era began in a blaze of glory against the Hurricanes in Wellington.
A Frank Halai double saw the Blues cruise to a memorably good 34-20 win and, when they returned to Auckland the following week and scored five tries to beat the Crusaders 34-15 at Eden Park, there was a genuine sense of a Blues' renaissance.
Saturday 13 July 2013: JK's first season ends with a fizz as the Blues lose 16-26 loss to the Chiefs, their sixth consecutive loss. After their two opening wins, the Blues lost 10 of their next 14 games to finish 10th on the ladder.
August 2013: Benji Marshall signed a two-year deal with the Blues, worth close to $500,000 a season.
Saturday 22 February 2014: The Blues lose their season opener 29-21 to the Highlanders. It's one of nine games they will lose over the course of the season as they once again finish in 10th place.
Wednesday 23 April, 2014: Marshall is released from his contract after making just one start and six appearances. Marshall wasn't fit enough when he arrived in Auckland and it was never clear if he had been brought over to be a starting No 10 or an exotic option to inject somewhere into the mix off the bench.
Saturday 14 February 2015: The Blues kick off their 2015 season with a loss to the Chiefs, followed by six more consecutive losses, making it their worst ever start to the season.
March 2015: Kirwan approaches Tabai Matson about a possible move to coach the Blues.
May 14: Crusaders say Matson has rejected Kirwan's approach and call it an "intolerable distraction".
May 15: Blues respond with statement saying no decisions have been made and media speculation has compromised process.
Friday 12 June 2015: The Blues complete their worst Super Rugby season with an embarrassing 44-7 home loss to the Highlanders. The Blues won just three of their 16 games and the pressure on JK to resign was unrelenting.
19 June 2015: Kirwan announces that he will not seek reappointment for a further term as coach and will step aside, effective immediately.
Redman and Kirwan walk in #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: JK told me he was going to resign yesterday #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: While the playing results have not been what we would like, his efforts have been acknowledged #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I love this club and it's tough to resign #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I've reflected in the past few days and I've taken the decision based on family and results #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I didn't bring the results we all wanted. This week has been a perfect storm #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I am paid to present the team to win games for the boards and fans #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I still believe we're in the middle of a turnaround #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I still believe we're in the middle of a turnaround #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: It's been a fantastic ride and I'm a better coach than I was this three years ago #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: Tana would be fantastic but that's the board's decision. The club's in a better place than when I started #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: the new coach will come into a different organization to what JK arrived at #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: A lot of this year has been about player accountability and the next coach has to manage that #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Kirwan: I take full responsibility for this year's results. I really hope the fans stay and get behind the team early next year #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: As a result of the work with JK we've managed to keep all our talented young players #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: The next stage is acquisition and recruitment #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015
Redman: We're comfortable about our recruitment strategy #BluesRugby
— NZ Herald Sport (@nzheraldsport) June 18, 2015