Gloucester could cash in on All Blacks coaching break-up

Gloucester have been linked with a move for the former All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland as they look to reshuffle their coaching staff ahead of next season.

The CV for Holland, 52, who played in two Heineken Cup finals for Munster at the start of the Millennium, when they were defeated by Northampton Saints and Leicester Tigers, has been floating around.

The former Ireland A international, who started his coaching career with the province, returned to the Hurricanes late last year, where he was head coach for four years between 2020 and 2024.

Holland is working under Hurricanes head coach Clark Laidlaw for the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific campaign after leaving Scott Robertson’s coaching team in November after a two-year stint following the Autumn Nations Series.

He had enjoyed success as an assistant coach helping deliver the Hurricanes their sole Super Rugby title in 2016 and claiming a Heineken Cup, two Celtic League titles with Munster and the 2013 NPC crown with Canterbury.

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Holland has emerged as a leading contender to link up with the Cherry and Whites next season as part of a revamp that will see former agent Rob Burgess, who is Bath’s head of recruitment, return to Kingsholm.

Burgess, who was previously Gloucester’s rugby manager and then head of rugby operations, is due back at the club for a third time, it is believed, with a general manager job title.

That isn’t likely to be the only change with England World Cup winner Trevor Woodman due to speak to United Rugby Championship outfit Connacht about their soon-to-be vacant scrum coach role.

Gloucester, who entertain Sale Sharks in the PREM Rugby Cup on Friday, have spoken to former Exeter Chiefs head coach Rob Hunter about becoming forwards coach next season.

Ironically, it was a club-record 79-17 loss at Gloucester last year that cost him his job with the Chiefs after only four games in charge at Sandy Park, after being promoted from forwards coach after Ali Hepher’s demotion.