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Highlanders reveal big change with Jamie Joseph taking over as head coach

Jamie Joseph of the Highlanders looks on ahead of the Super Rugby Pacific Pre-Season match between Highlanders and Hurricanes at Forsyth Barr Stadium on February 10, 2024 in Dunedin, New Zealand. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)

The Highlanders have made a significant announcement for the next Super Rugby Pacific season by revealing former Maori All Blacks and Japan mastermind Jamie Joseph will replace Clarke Dermody as head coach.

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Joseph, 54, is well-regarded as one of New Zealand’s leading rugby minds after successful stints with teams including Wellington, the Sunwolves and of course Japan. But the popular coach is beloved down south after a historic run in 2015.

With the likes of Lima Sopoaga, Ben Smith and Elliot Dixon running around in a Highlanders jersey each, Joseph was the man who coached them to the team’s first-ever Super Rugby triumph when they defeated the Hurricanes in Wellington.

Years later, after a successful spell with Japan’s Brave Blossoms which included a trip to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in 2019, the University of Otago graduate was talked up as a contender for the All Blacks’ top job along with Scott Robertson.

But after returning to Dunedin in the newly created role of Head of Rugby in the early months of 2024, Joseph will move into a familiar role next year as head coach. Clarke Dermody will remain at the club but as an assistant coach under Joseph.

“I’m delighted to be back coaching and leading the Highlanders again,” Joseph said in a statement. “I am keen to get stuck in with Clarke and the rest of my coaching team next season.

“My goal is to take this team as far as it can go and to build a record of success that we can all be proud of.”

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Joseph takes up one of the more intriguing coaching jobs in Super Rugby Pacific with a young core at the Highlanders showing genuine signs of promise in 2024.

First five-eighth Cameron Millar made the No. 10 jersey his own during a series of strong performances in the back half of the year, and others including Folau Fakatava and Fabian Holland also impressed in either navy or maroon jerseys.

Under Dermody, the Dunedin-based outfit claimed a sixth-place finish on the ladder before going down in the knockout rounds 32-16 to the Brumbies in Canberra. The former head coach can see why the appointment of Joseph is a “positive” move.

“It’s a change that Jamie discussed with me and while I am very proud of what we achieved this season, I accept the view that if it will be of benefit to the club to have his coaching influence on the team next year,” Dermody explained.

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“From that perspective, I believe it’s a positive step and I’m happy to support the move in the best interests of the club.

“I know there is plenty of growth left in this team,” he added. “They are all still mostly young and relatively inexperienced players at Super Rugby level.

“We all learned a lot this year and the benefits of that experience will pay dividends for us next year. Personally, I am looking forward to the opportunity to work with Jamie in unleashing the potential within the team next season.”

During Joseph’s various stints both domestically and abroad, it’s hard to look past the aforementioned 2016 Super Rugby title and the 2019 Rugby World Cup run with the Brave Blossoms in Japan  as career highlights.

But another accolade that deserves mention is Joseph leading Wellington to their first Ranfurly Shield victory in 26 years. That moment of history came during a memorable multi-year stint in the capital.

Joseph will look to create more good memories as the Highlanders’ young core looks to build on their quarter-final appearance under former head coach Dermody earlier this year.

“We believe these changes will take advantage of the unique skill sets that both Jamie and Clarke possess,” Highlanders Chairman, Peter Kean, said.

“Jamie has a proven track record as a coach at international level and that experience and knowledge will be hugely beneficial to the Highlanders.

“As a board we are delighted Clarke will remain with the Highlanders and he will have an enormous contribution to make as Jami’s assistant.”

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Comments

4 Comments
J
Jon 267 days ago

Not sure why he just didnt run the show from where he was. Tightening the budget strings I suppose.

C
Chiefs Mana 267 days ago

Another international caliber coach in charge of a SR team, fantastic.

U
Utiku Old Boy 269 days ago

Smart move by Highlanders and mature response from Dermody to accept the change. JJ has a lot to offer the development of these players and in moving the team into the top tier. Some recruitment may still be required but players languishing elsewhere will be more excited by an invitation with JJ at HC. Big boost for NZ rugby.

N
Nickers 269 days ago

All of a sudden the SR coaching ranks are stacked with talent. A very good sign for NZ rugby for the next few years.

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I
IkeaBoy 5 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.”

Good lad, just checking. So you’re not a bot! Chelsea bombed the 2008 final more than United won it. John Terry… couldn’t happen to a nicer fella.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made.”

So the difference between 2021 and 2023 would of course be TWO YEARS. 24 months would account for 3 different seasons. They contested ECL finals twice in two years. The first in 2021 - which they lost - was still the first elite European final in the clubs then 141 year history. Explain clearly how that’s not an achievement? Guess what age he was then…


“I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright.”

I thought you don’t care what certain managers did 10 years ago…

Why would I address Eddie Jones? Why would he be deserving of a single sentence?


“I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.”

So you haven’t watched even a minute of Super Rugby this year?


“lol u really need to chill out”

Simply frightful! If you’re not a bot you’re at least Gen-Z?

171 Go to comments
f
fl 6 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

“Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca”

Why are you so insistent on being wrong? Man United won in 2008 (beating Chelsea in the final). In 2009 Barcelona won, beating United.


“The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.”

Again - you’re not correct. City won the CL in 2023, and made the final in 2021. Those are the only two CL finals they have made. With Barcelona, Pep made the semi final four consecutive times - with City he’s managed only 3 in 8 years. This year they didn’t even make the round of 16.


To re-cap, you wrote that Pep “has gotten better with age. By every measure.” There are some measures that support what you’re saying, but the vast majority of the measures that you have highlighted actually show the opposite.


I am aware Les Kiss has achieved great things in his career, but I don’t care what he did over ten years ago. Rugby was a different sport back then.


I think your take on Gatland is pretty silly. Gatland was without Edwards in the 2013 and 2017 Lions tours and managed to do alright. You’ve also not addressed Eddie Jones.


I agree wrt Schmidt. He would ideally be retained, but it wouldn’t work to have a remote head coach. He should definitely be hired as a consultant/analyst/selector though.


“Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.”

lol u really need to chill out lad. Kiss and Schmidt would both be great members of the coaching set up in 2025, but it would be ridiculous to bank on either to retain the head coach role until 2031.

171 Go to comments
I
IkeaBoy 6 hours ago
Why Les Kiss and Stuart Lancaster can lead Australia to glory

Pep didn’t win the ECL in 2009. It was 2008 with Barca. The gap between wins ignores the finals contested. 2 in 2 years with his City Triumph. The most recent put him in the elite company of managers to have won it with multiple clubs. Yet more late career success and history.


His time with City - a lower win ratio compared to Bayern Munich as you say - includes a 100 PT season. A feat that will likely never be surpassed. I appreciate you don’t follow soccer too closely but even casual fans refer to the sport in ‘pre and post Pep’ terms and all because of what he has achieved and is continuing to achieve, late career. There is a reason that even U10’s play out from the back now at every level of the game. That’s also a fairly recent development.


How refreshing to return to rugby on a rugby forum.


Ireland won a long over due slam in 2009. The last embers of a golden generation was kicked on by a handful of young new players and a new senior coach. Kiss was brought in as defence coach and was the reason they won it. They’d the best defence in the game at the time. He all but invented the choke tackle. Fittingly they backed it up in the next world cup in their 2011 pool match against… Australia. The instantly iconic image of Will Genia getting rag-dolled by Stephen Ferris.


His career since has even included director of rugby positions. He would have an extremely good idea of where the game is at and where it is going in addition to governance experience and dealings. Not least in Oz were many of the players will have come via or across Rugby League pathways.


Gatland isn’t a valid coach to compare too. He only ever over-achieved and was barely schools level without Shaun Edwards at club or test level. His return to Wales simply exposed his limitations and a chaotic union. It wasn’t age.


Schmidt is open to staying involved in a remote capacity which I think deserves more attention. It would be a brain drain to lose him. He stepped in to coach the ABs in the first 2022 test against Ireland when Foster was laid out with Covid. They mullered Ireland 42-19. He was still heavily involved in the RWC 2023 quarter final. Same story.


Look at the talent that would be discarded in Schmidt and Kiss if your age Nazism was applied.

171 Go to comments
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LONG READ No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad? No definites, but which Wales players could still make Lions squad?
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