1
Chiefs secure Clayton McMillan's services as Warren Gatland's back-up
Clayton McMillan is staying long-term at the Chiefs, signing on as an assistant coach for the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
ADVERTISEMENT
McMillan assumes the interim Chiefs head coach role this season with Warren Gatland scheduled to lead the British and Irish Lions on their tour of South Africa in July.
That tour is in grave doubt, however, as Covid-19 cases soar in South Africa. Unless the situation drastically improves the Lions tour is expected to be postponed, cancelled or possibly moved from the Republic, which casts uncertainty over Gatland’s movements and potential involvement with the Chiefs.
Setting aside that uncertainty, the Chiefs have moved to lock in McMillan long-term.
Next year the successful Bay of Plenty and New Zealand Maori mentor will step back from Chiefs head coach to assistant Gatland, and retain that position for the 2023 season.
The elephant in the room is, however, the Lions tour and what impact that could yet have on Gatland’s Chiefs commitments potentially beyond this season.
“I am stoked to have signed on for another couple of years post 2021,” McMillian said. “I am incredibly grateful to be here in the first place and that the club has shown faith in my ability and willingness to be a part of the organisation that really wants to move forward. It is really appealing and gives me the opportunity to dig my toes in now and be a part of that journey.
“The Chiefs are my region – I’ve grown up here supporting the Chiefs and had a number of my players play for the club so it’s fantastic to now be a really integral part of the organisation.
ADVERTISEMENT
“What really excites me are the opportunities ahead. We’ve got a young squad, some really talented players, and some outstanding leaders. There’s an opportunity to create a bit of a legacy if we can keep this group together and build towards ultimately winning championships.”
Despite the unusual situation of switching coaching roles, McMillan is enthused at the prospect of being mentored by Gatland.
“I have already formed a good relationship with Gatty,” McMillan said. “He was really welcoming in 2020 and allowed me to come over and see the organisation from the top down. We have caught up numerous times since to allow us to continue to build on our relationship.
“One of the attractions of coming to the Chiefs in the first place was to have the opportunity to work alongside Gats. He is one of the world’s most experienced coaches. I have always been a head coach so it will be nice in some respects to step back and be mentored by somebody of his experience. It is only going to help me in my coaching journey. It’s a massive opportunity and one I am exceptionally grateful for.”
ADVERTISEMENT
There's a very real chance that the Lions tour doesn't go ahead as planned in 2021 – so what does that mean for the man who negotiated one year away from the Chiefs to fit in his Lions obligations? @lionsofficial #BritishandIrishLionshttps://t.co/7fHdqzsnlR
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 10, 2021
Chiefs chief executive Michael Collins praised McMillan as a proven leader who will add to the team culture.
“Clayton and Gatty have formed a good working relationship and this combination is going to be fundamentally important for the growth and development of our club,” Collins said.
“Clayton has already had a positive impact since he joined us and we are excited to see him lead the Chiefs this coming Super Rugby season.”
Gatland is pleased McMillan will continue alongside Neil Barnes, Roger Randle, David Hill and Nick White beyond this year.
“I’m absolutely delighted Clayton has been appointed in a long-term role with the Chiefs. He is extremely well respected in the game and what he has achieved with Bay of Plenty and the Maori All Blacks gives him the credit he deserves coming into these roles as head coach for this season and continuing as assistant coach when I return.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Don’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to commentsSuch a shame Roigard and Aumua picked up long term injuries, probably the two form players in the comp. Also, pretty sure Clarke Dermody isn’t their coach. Got it half right though.
3 Go to commentsOh the Aussie media, they never learn. It’s simple to see what’s going on. The Aussie teams are settled, they didn't lose any of their major players overseas. The Crusaders and Chiefs lost key experienced All Blacks, and Razor in the Crusaders case, and clearly neither are anywhere near as strong as last year (The Canes and Blues would probably be 3rd & 4th if they were). The Highlanders are annually average, even more so post-Aaron Smith and a big squad clean out. The two teams at the top? The two nz sides with largely the same settled roster as last year, except Ardie Savea for the Canes. They’ve both got far better coaches now too. If the Aussies are going to win the title, this is the year the kiwi sides will be weakest, so they better take their chance.
3 Go to commentsThe World Cup has to be the gold standard, line in the sand. 113 teams compete for what is the opportunity to make the pool stages, and then the knockout games for the trophy. The concept is sound. This must have been the rationale when the World Cup was created, surely? But I’m all for Looking forward and finding new ways for the SH to dominate the NH into the future. The autumn series needs a change up. Let’s start by having the NH teams come south every odd year for the Autumn/Spring series games?
1 Go to commentsWhat’ll happen when the AI models of the future go back in time and try to destroy the AI models of the past standing in their way of certain victory?
41 Go to commentsThanks, Nick. We (Seanny Maloney, Brett and I) just discussed Charlie as a potential Wallaby No 8, and wondered if he has truly realised how big he is in contact (and whether he can add 5 kg w/o slowing down). Your scouting report confirms our suspicions he has the materiel. No one knows if he has the mentality (as Johann van Graan said this week about CJ, Duane and Alfie B) to carry 10-15 times a game.
57 Go to commentsHe would be a great player for the Stormers, Dobbo should approach the guy.
3 Go to commentsGood article. A few years back when he was playing for the Cheetahs, he was a quiet standout for exactly the seasons stated here. I occasionally get to see his games in the UK, and he has become a more complete player and in many ways like an Irish player. His work ethic is so suitable to the Leinster game. I wonder if Rassie would have him listed somewhere.
3 Go to commentsResults probably skewed by the fact that a few clubs have foreign fly halves in their 30s, but most teams have young English scrum halves. Results also likely to be skewed by the fact that many teams rely on centres and fullbacks to provide depth at 10, whereas they will need to stock a large number of specialist backup 9s.
1 Go to commentsI really get the sense that when all is said and done, the path of least resistance will end up being a merger of Wasps & Worcester that essentially kills the Worcester Warriors brand and sees Wasps permanently playing at Sixways. I’m not saying that’s what should happen or what I want to happen. I just think it’s the easiest rout to take and therefore, will be what happens. Wasps will definitely return to play first, and I suppose it all depends on if they can find support at Sixways. If people turn up and support Wasps in that community, at that ground, I bet they drop the Sevenoaks plan and just remain at Sixways. Under the radar but not totally unrelated, it looks as though London Irish are going to be brought back from the dead by a German consortium and look set to return, likely to the remade Championship. It’s set to have 12 clubs next season with 14 in 2025/26, what do you want to bet those extra 2 are Wasps and London Irish?
3 Go to commentsThe shoulder is a “joint” with multiple bones. You don’t “fracture” a shoulder, you fracture any one or more of the bones that make up a shoulder.
2 Go to commentsOh dear, bones too suspect to continue?
2 Go to commentsBold headline considering the Canes and Blues are 1 and 2 and the Brumbies were soundly beaten by the Chiefs and Blues. Biggest surprise is Rebels 4 Crusaders 12 - no one saw that coming. If Aus are improving that’s great 👍
3 Go to commentsAnna, You are right, we need to have patience whilst the others catch up to England and France. Also it is the PWR that has been the game changer for England. the RFU put money into that initially at the expense of the Red Roses. I was sceptical at first but it has paid off in spades.
1 Go to commentsI think Matt Proctor became a 1 test AB in the same fixture. Cameron is quality and has been great this season, can’t believe’s he only 27. Realistically how would he not be selected for ABs squad this year. Only Dmac is ahead of him as a specialist 10. With Jordan out, it will come down to where and when Beauden Barrett slots back in, and where they want to play Ruben Love. Cameron seems an absolute lock in for the wider squad though. Added benefit of TJ-Cameron-Jordie combination at 9, 10, 11 too.
1 Go to commentsFarcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
8 Go to comments