Stephen Donald’s slip of the tongue appears to confirm Jono Gibbes as new Chiefs coach

Stephen Donald appears to have confirmed Jono Gibbes will become the new Chiefs coach. Photo / Photosport, Sky Sport

Former All Blacks first five-eighths Stephen Donald appears to have accidentally announced Jono Gibbes as the replacement for Chiefs coach Clayton McMillan.

Gibbes, who played 68 times for the Chiefs during his career, linked up with the Hamilton-based franchise for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season as a resource coach.

The 48-year-old has previously worked at Leinster, Ulster, La Rochelle and Clermont. He was also coach of the New Zealand under-20s team in 2023 and 2024.

The Herald tipped Gibbes as a likely appointment in April, with McMillan on his way to Munster at the end of the season.

But Donald appears to have had a slip of the tongue, while appearing on Sky Sports’ The Breakdown.

“I don’t know if it’s been announced but there is a guy in the building who has coached at the highest level in Jono Gibbes, who is a like-for-like,” said Donald.

“If it’s Jono for example, it’s an easy transition.”

Donald was quick to backtrack and say he “assumes” Gibbes will be the coach after host Kirstie Stanway said: “You’ve basically announced it”.

A spokesperson for the Chiefs told the Herald that there will be no official announcement before the season’s end as they’re focused on the Super Rugby Pacific playoffs.

They’re aiming to send McMillan out in style by winning their third Super Rugby title, having claimed glory in 2012 and 2013 under Dave Rennie.

The Chiefs finished top of the table during the regular season and will host the defending champion Blues in the first round of the playoffs on Saturday, a rematch of last year’s final.

West Auckland-born Gibbes played eight tests and made nine appearances for the Māori All Blacks, captaining the side to their first victory over the British and Irish Lions, a 19–13 triumph against Sir Clive Woodward’s ill-fated 2005 tourists.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.