Plumtree applies for Kiwi post

Sharks coach John Plumtree appears to be ready to return home to New Zealand, after reports surfaced that he had applied to take over as Hurricanes coach next year.

rugby365 / Sunday News

The Sunday News reports that Plumtree is one of at least six candidates that have applied for the job – to be vacated by Colin Cooper when the tournament expands to a Super 15 ion 2011.

It will mean the current Sharks coach, Plumtree, could get the job he wanted before he left New Zealand to join the men from Durban.

Plumtree will join candidates like Clermont coach Vern Cotter, former All Black hooker Mark Hammett, current Wellington Lions coach Jamie Joseph, Dave Rennie and Hawke’s Bay’s Peter Russell.

Applications for the Hurricanes position close on January 26.

Plumtree coached Wellington in the NPC from 2001 to 2006, taking the team to the final three times.

Unable to get a Super 14 contract in New Zealand, he headed to South Africa to become Sharks assistant coach, alongside Dick Muir (current Lions coach) and then head coach of the Sharks when Muir moved on to become Springbok backline coach.

Plumtree took the Sharks to Currie Cup success in 2008 and is regarded as one of the top coaches in South Africa.

If he was successful at getting the Hurricanes job, his long-time assistant Chris Boyd, currently on Plumtree’s back-up staff in Durban, will return to Wellington with him.

Until recently it had been perceived that the job was as good as Rennie’s, but according to the Sunday News the quality of the candidates has far exceeded expectations.

The NZRU targeted a number of high-profile Kiwis coaching abroad and sent them notification of the upcoming vacancy.

Plumtree and Cotter have indicated their interest – while another potential candidate, former Blues assistant Joe Schmidt, who is now assistant coach to Cotter at Clermont, will take over as Leinster’s head coach next season.

Cotter – who won the Ranfurly Shield as coach of Bay of Plenty – has been at Clermont since 2006 and has taken them to the final of the Top 14 for the past three seasons, despite having a smaller budget than some of France’s other top-flight teams.

Former All Black Hammett has always been keen to make his mark as a coach in New Zealand. Despite being endorsed by Robbie Deans to take over from him at the Crusaders, Hammett was bypassed for Todd Blackadder.

Despite the quality of the applicants from outside the franchise, Rennie and Joseph are very much still in the hunt.