NO PROBLEMS ADJUSTING: Newly appointed Blues assistant Glenn Moore in his days as Highlanders’ head coach.
Former Highlanders coach Glenn Moore will take charge of the Blues forward pack for the next two years.
Moore will join the Blues fulltime at the conclusion of the Heartland Championship – he is the current Mid Canterbury head coach – and replace All Blacks skills coach Mick Byrne, who stepped down at this end of last season.
Auckland-born Moore partners head coach Kirwan and assistant Grant Doorey in the coaching team with a back skills coach, who will fill Sir Graham Henry’s void, to be appointed in the coming weeks.
Moore reckons none of his Super Rugby charges will phone to say they can’t make training because the cow shed roof has blown off in a big storm.
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Moore, a former New Zealand Divisional coach who also won the NPC third division title in 2002 with North Otago, was the Highlanders’ head coach between 2008 and 2010 before he was replaced by Jamie Joseph.
But the 54-year-old former loose forward said he always aspired to return to coaching in the professional ranks.
“I’ve always wanted to get back to that level. I’ve had a couple or three opportunities to go overseas, but I preferred to stay in New Zealand.”
When the Blues opportunity came up, Moore thought he would seize the chance to work with Kirwan and a playing group that includes current All Blacks forwards Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Steven Luatua, Jerome Kaino, Charlie Faumuina and Patrick Tuipolotu.
Moore has been a head coach for most of his career, although he did have a two-year spell as Otago’s assistant-coach under Steve Martin.
But he does not anticipate any problems adjusting to being an assistant at the Blues.
Taking the Mid Canterbury reins proved a win-win situation for both Moore and his hometown union.
“I always had aspirations to get back to a high level and it was important that I kept my hand in,” said Moore, who has lived at Rolleston since 2011.
“I grew up in Ashburton so when Mid Canterbury asked if I’d come in and help, I was happy to. I felt I was living close by and and I wanted to contribute something back to grassroots rugby.”
Moore said it had been enjoyable working with amateur players, although it could be ”a little frustrating when you get a phone call saying there’s been a major storm and the water systems are out on the farm or the cow shed roof’s come off, and they can’t make training.
“But that’s what happens back in the real world – people’s livelihoods come first.”
But Moore has thrived on ”getting right back to the roots of the game” and ”drilling down” the basics and coaching technique and individual skills.
His mission has been to make Mid Canterbury ”the fittest team in the competition” and he is pleased with their progress.
They gave a favourable account of themselves in a Ranfurly Shield challenge against Counties Manukau and upset the Southland NPC team in a preseason game at Oamaru.
Mid Canterbury opened their season with a big win over West Coast last weekend.
Moore said he told his Mid Canterbury players last week about the Blues job and they were “really stoked for me.”
“But I said to them I’m looking to finish the year with them.”
After playing for Mid Canterbury between 1991 and 1994, Moore turned to coaching with Dunedin club Zingari Richmond.
He became North Otago coach in 2000, guiding them to the third division title and two semifinal placings and was New Zealand Divisional XV coach from 2003 to 2005.
Moore spent the next two years as Otago’s forwards coach and as a defence coach with the Highlanders before taking the Highlanders’ head coach job.
Fairfax Media understands North Harbour coach Steve Jackson interviewed for the forwards role, while Northland coach and former All Blacks hooker Derren Former Highlanders coach Glenn Moore will take charge of the Blues forward pack for the next two years.
Moore will join the Blues fulltime at the conclusion of the Heartland Championship.
Moore’s last stint in Super Rugby was not successful. At the halfway point his final season he had a 24 per cent winning record. After an underwhelming three year term with the Highlanders (2007-2010) he was replaced by Jamie Joseph.
Kirwan said he was delighted to welcome Moore to the Blues.
“He was a standout candidate and he’s exactly what we need at the Blues,” Kirwan said.
“He’s widely respected throughout rugby circles and brings a wealth of experience which is really important because we’re losing a little bit of that. He’s also incredibly passionate about the game and I think he’ll bring a really hard edge to the forward pack.
“I’m really excited about the opportunity to join the coaching staff at the Blues and get back to coaching at an elite level,” Moore said.
“I was really impressed with JK’s vision and passion for the franchise. That helped make it an easy decision to join the coaching team. I’m really looking forward to relocating up north and getting stuck in.”