David Hill
Former All Black David Hill will join the coaching team at the Blues for the forthcoming Super Rugby season.
Hill will take up the role as backs skills coach for the Blues, to complete their coaching group for the 2015 season under head coach Sir John Kirwan and assistant coaches Grant Doorey and Glenn Moore.
He has enjoyed a long career including representation for the All Blacks, Maori All Blacks, Junior All Blacks, more than 50 games for the Chiefs and the 2010 Super Rugby season for the Force.
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Hill has complemented this with a successful international career at Bristol in the English Premiership for two seasons from 2006, Toshiba from 2008 and now with fellow Japan club Kurita Water.
The 36 year old has also been coaching at Tokai University this year and was involved in skills coaching alongside his playing role at Toshiba Brave Lupus.
“I’m looking forward to returning to New Zealand and working with the exciting group of Blues players for the upcoming Super Rugby season,” Hill said.
Blues head coach Sir John Kirwan said he is delighted to have attracted Hill to join the Blues coaching group.
“David joins us after a wealth of experience on the rugby field at the highest levels and in major competitions in several countries,” Kirwan said.
“He is only just leaving the game but has been developing his skills coaching for some times and so offers that immediate experience in key skills areas of the game and will have a real rapport with our players as a result.
“David will complement our coaching group and we look forward to welcoming him to the Blues in the next few weeks.”
Also, Jason Price steps up into the role as head strength and conditioning coach, replacing Wally Rifle.
Price, formerly a physical training instructor in the Air Force, was previously the assistant strength and conditioning coach last year.
Alex Ross has been appointed sports science manager and assistant strength and conditioning coach.