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Highlanders lose head coach Tony Brown for entire Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign
The Highlanders have been dealt a blow leading into their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign as head coach Tony Brown will depart the franchise next Thursday.
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In addition to his role as head coach of the Dunedin-based franchise, Brown is also assistant coach of Japan and is set to join up with the Brave Blossoms squad ahead of their June 26 clash against the British and Irish Lions in Edinburgh.
By linking back up with long-time coaching partner and Brave Blossoms head coach Jamie Joseph, Brown will need to embark on a two-week quarantine period in Japan prior to the national side’s 14-day training camp, which begins on May 26.
It means Brown will miss the entire Super Rugby Trans-Tasman season, which is due to start next week, with Highlanders assistant coach Clarke Dermody set to take over as head coach for upcoming competition.
“Having to head to Japan earlier than expected is disappointing particularly leaving my team before the end of the season, it’s not what anyone would have wanted,” Brown, who is contracted to the Highlanders until the end of next season, said of the premature end to his campaign.
“I will be in touch with Clarke and the other coaches on a daily basis and I am positive they will respond well to the situation.”
He added that the disruption caused by COVID-19 since the 2019 World Cup has prevented the Japanese squad from spending any time together since that tournament, meaning his presence at the training camp is vital to prepare for the Lions clash.
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“Even though the Lions match has only recently been finalised it’s unfortunate that the Japanese preparation has been so limited we will need to go into an intense camp almost immediately to get organised.”
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said while he is disappointed to lose Brown midway through the season, he and the franchise have the full backing of Dermody.
“No one could have predicted it would come to this, due to the pandemic the Lions tour itinerary has been completely up in the air for the better part of a year,” Clark said.
“The way it has worked out means Brownie’s international obligations suddenly overlap with his Super Rugby duties which obviously is a situation that doesn’t sit comfortably with anyone.
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“However, as an organisation we know we still have his services even though he is not on the ground with us, we have every faith in Clarke and the coaching and management group to deal with the challenge.”
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Losing one of the sport’s most highly-respected coaches will add an extra challenge for an inconsistent Highlanders outfit that has been ravaged by injuries and off-field dramas in a season where they finished fourth in Super Rugby Aotearoa.
By promoting Dermody, however, the Highlanders have a coach who has found success at the provincial levels of the game in New Zealand.
Primed to usurp Brown as Highlanders head coach on a full-time basis at the end of next year, Dermody co-coached the Tasman Mako to their first-ever Mitre 10 Cup title in 2019 and then helped them retain their champion status last year.
Prior to that, the three-test All Blacks prop spent four seasons with the Southland Stags between 2014 and 2017 and had one campaign with the Munakata Sanix Blues in Japan seven years ago.
The 41-year-old, under the stewardship of Joseph and Brown, was also part of the Highlanders coaching staff that delivered its maiden Super Rugby crown in 2015 after first joining the franchise in a coaching capacity the year beforehand.
To help alleviate the loss of personnel within their coaching ranks, the Highlanders have also called upon their talent development coach Kane Jury to assist Dermody throughout Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
Jury will join a coaching panel that already features former Highlanders flanker Shane Christie and ex-British and Irish Lions midfielder Riki Flutey, as well as Dermody.
A 52-man Japan squad was named last month in preparation for the historic Lions test, which will be the two teams’ first-ever meeting and will act as a warm-up clash for the British and Irish side ahead of their eight-match tour of South Africa.
The squad will then be trimmed to 35 players once the Top League play-offs conclude on May 24, two days before the side will congregate for their training camp in Oita.
A Japan XV will then square off against the Sunwolves, the former Super Rugby side that has been revived for a one-off encounter in Shizuoka on June 12, before the squad flies out to Scotland four days later.
The Highlanders, meanwhile, will kick their Super Rugby Trans-Tasman campaign off against the Reds at Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin next Friday.
Comments on RugbyPass
Terrible idea…will be too hot, no one will travel, fan zones will be promised nice cold guinness and last minute will get water. Also how do you squeeze this into the already busy battle rhythm, Prem, summer series, 6 nations & world cup….if, and its a big IF you’re going to do this, do it in a rugby nation.
2 Go to commentsWell let’s hope world rugby doesn't read some of this nonsense, because next on the agenda will be…“players will only tackle other players deemed to be in their weight class, and only with moderate velocity”.
15 Go to commentsI was never allowed to adjust boots, or ever replaced, while I was playing and staying on the field. If I had issues, I had to go to the sideline and fix them myself. Then I would ask the ref to get back in. That would really make you deal with it FAST!
4 Go to commentsGreat point. It would be terrible to have a card for poor tackling cost the all blacks a world cup. Oh hi all blacks captain Sam Cane, how you going?
15 Go to commentsI like Andy’s critical approach to all hot issues especially when it comes to the rugby big “bosses”. However, sorry Andy, I don’t support your “we shouldn’t be questioning the integrity of Karl Dickson or any other official”. May I ask why? They do have a lot of responsibility, but they are people like us with all their sins and weaknesses. We have to respect their decision during the games, but why they became untouchable afterwards and people cannot even criticize them and the ones, who does express their concerns, got punished for publicly analyzing their mistakes and asking questions. If they believe they did right, there shouldn’t be a problem for any of the refs to answer these “questions” publicly. I don’t really remember such cases. However, I do remember how Craig Joubert shown his running skills in 2015 or Pascal Gauzere shined in Cardiff in 2021. I do believe that Rassie, as anybody else, had a full right to share his vision of Nic Berry’s performance the same year. I do not support the hate in any form especially in public one, but creating the cast of untouchable refs and rugby bosses is not for me. As for Karl, he had all means to question his appointment for the game and since I don’t now whether he did it, blaming just RFU wouldn’t be quite correct at this moment. I love the game of rugby and almost every time I watch it I don’t support any team, I just wanna see the good game and fair referring. Sorry, Karl. last Saturday you got my Craig Joubert”s award of the round. It is up to Karl to prove that I am wrong, not to Andy or RFU’s corporate bla-bla-bla. Something like that…
1 Go to commentswell remember the blues had a guy called jed rowlands for a season. remember scott took his coaching team with him give him time
15 Go to commentswell maybe he needs to be introduced to darcy swain then who never got anything much and put a cheifs ands allblack player out injured and made him miss a season recovering
15 Go to commentswell maybe the match offficals should sort it out if they are worried about it and stop the clock
4 Go to commentsI totally agree. I also believe that minor injuries unless dangerous must be treared OFF the field of play and the game continue with a temp replacement if necessary.
4 Go to commentsSend the bill to McLennan.
3 Go to comments2 out of 3 were perfect. TMOs love jumping in on anything outside the law. The fact they saw nothing wrong speaks volumes. You want to see what a late blindside hit looks like, watch Kepu take out Carter in the 2015 World Cup final. Completely different to the Tah’s tackle.
15 Go to commentsverkeerde kant van die gereg lol
5 Go to commentsJust like John Plumtree at the Sharks he has had a poor start to this season’s coaching gig, but now it looks like he is starting to pull them back also having won 1 game in the first Eleven games they played. It obviously helps that 11 of his fifteen are Springbok players. But now they are starting to improve. No ways they can make it to the playoffs this year but they probably used this season as a way to figure out their game plan. One query I have and I think quite a few people have is: Are they playing better simply because of their international players are back or is it the team strategy led by Rob Penney that is starting to tick? Well I guess we wait and see. Also if it doesn't work out this season, it might be that Rob Penney is using this season as a way to organize himself for next season. Getting all his combinations sorted, his team strategies sorted and figuring out who is best is which position. Now I don't follow Super Rugby any more having now a full focus in the URC but I was surprised about the current Crusaders stats.
15 Go to commentsIf I’m a little bloke, who’s just had possession of the ball, I should expect to get cleaned up by Samipeni Finau if he’s opposite me and I do nothing to avoid him. FTFY You’ll need to rewrite the rest of your article now Hamish Bidwell. I’m not sorry for having missed reading this one. I find it hilarious it’s only the static aussie 10s, just waiting there, that are getting smashed. Move on your feet guys, haven’t you watched DMac and Mounga play for the last decade ffs. Chin up, at least your smiles should return when BB returns to SR next year and there’s more 10s to the fodder.
15 Go to commentsFinau is not leaving a lot of room for error that’s true, but he committed to 3 out of four tackles when the player had the ball so that’s all legal. (And incredibly entertaining)
15 Go to commentsHow does the size of the ‘bloke being hit’ factor into this? If you’re on the opposing team you are fair game. Is Finau the first person in history to target the first five? It seems like this is a great strategy to interrupt your opponents attack. As far as I’m aware, of the four excellent hits on Aussie first fives this year only one of them was ruled late. So if crying about legal tackles isn’t whingeing, then what is it?
15 Go to commentsThings I want to pay attention to this series. 1) Nothing against the other teams in 6 nations, but apart from Irelands loss to england, I dont feel they got tested, So I think this might be tight. 2) Rassie wants to build depth, and would rather do it before a world cup, but I am sure deep inside, he will be reminded that we have not beaten Ireland in years. 3) Will our new coaches plans be sound abd organised in time for the Ireland series? Remember our warm ups might only see our second or third string players available (When are we going to have one universal calander year?) 4) I see Ireland have moved on from Sexton, but what will Farrels plans be for SA? I am sure he will go for a full strength squad. 5) I think the test for the springboks will be the Durban game, it will be in winter, so not too hot for the Irish,no altitude, and it rains allot, might remind them of home. Loftus, if the springboks play the right game, I feel altitude like with most games before, can cause some challanges. 6) Off topic, but who is both Anxious and excited about what the Abs are coming with? A whole new coaching team and different style of play.
137 Go to commentsMost underrated player in world rugby.
2 Go to commentsHow many fans will travel to Qatar to watch these games ? because if they dont, it will be played in front of a few disinterested unknowledgeable Qataris and then just becomes media ‘content’. Thats what Test rugby will be reduced to.
2 Go to commentsSo as long as the playmaker still has the ball IN his hands, its OK. Otherwise the timing is wrong and he’s a liability. No grey line there. Thats the rule he is advocating ? Got it.
15 Go to comments