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Jamie Joseph says he is committed to his role as Japan’s coach until the 2023 World Cup.
Jamie Joseph and former Otago and Japan defense coach Ben Herring have all but left the competition for the Highlanders’ coaching job.
The Highlanders left Aaron Mauger on Thursday, and without a replacement in place, speculation has risen about candidates for the job.
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Former Otago coach Ben Herring is about to sign a two-year contract to train in Japan.
However, Joseph, who coached the Highlanders from 2011 to 2016 and guided them to their first and only championship in 2015, told the Otago Daily Times his role as Japan’s head coach until the 2023 World Cup would prevent him from returning to his old franchise.
The former lazy All Black striker, who has been back at his Dunedin home riding Covid-19 since March, said it would be too difficult to commit to both jobs, though he admitted the uncertain nature of international rugby in today’s landscape created some uncertainty on that front.
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Meanwhile, Herring, who previously trained alongside Joseph and current Highlanders assistant Tony Brown in Japan, revealed to Stuff on Saturday that he was about to sign a two-year contract with a Japanese club that would “probably” remove him from the contest. for the role of the Highlanders.
“I don’t know where he’s going,” Herring said of the Highlanders vacancy.
“But I’m considering overseas commitments, so I’m probably out of that mix because of the overseas commitments I made.
“That will probably mean no. I could not do it.
Mountaineers
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark is already planning a second Super Rugby Aotearoa competition in 2021 due to travel and border restrictions.
“We are finalizing a deal in Japan for a couple of years, helping a team there. I really want to do it.
“It is likely to be completed in the next week.”
Herring would have been a strong candidate for a mountaineer position due to his connections to the Otago region (currently based in Wanaka) and his previous experience working alongside Brown.
He is widely regarded as an innovative thinker in the Scott Robertson mold, and he helped Otago win Ranfurly Shield in 2018, but the Highlanders will now have to move decisively if they want him in Dunedin next year rather than accept that Japanese offer.
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The Highlanders did not extend Aaron Mauger’s contract after three years in office.
The Highlanders have Brown, Clarke Dermody and Riki Flutey under contract for 2021, and must decide how best to complement them for whatever comes next year.
They have a possible replacement in Brown, who played for the franchise, was an assistant from 2014-16 and again this year, and was a head coach in 2017.
The big question is whether Brown wants to take on the added responsibilities of the main job when he has so many other things on his plate as Japan’s attacking coach.
Even if Brown assumes the head coach position, the Highlanders will need to add at least one more quality name to their setup, with Mauger and forward coach Mark Hammett leaving this year.
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Tony Brown is already hired for another two years, but the Highlanders will be eager to find at least one more quality coach.
“We have a little time before we need to make a final decision on our training structure for 2021,” Highlanders CEO Roger Clark said in a statement Thursday.
“We are fortunate to have quality trainers in Tony Brown, Clarke Dermody and Riki Flutey still hired.”
“Over the next short period, we will be reviewing our coaching structure and who and how many we add to our current group will depend on availability and our desire to achieve balance in our coaching group.”
