'Really easy decision': Chiefs extend coach McMillan

The Chiefs have gone from strength to strength in 2023, starting their season unbeaten through the opening seven rounds just two years after equalling a record 11-game losing streak.

The mastermind behind the great return to form, coach Clayton McMillan, has this week put pen to paper to extend his time with the club through until 2026.

in 2021, McMillan’s phenomenal work in turning the team around while coaching in an interim capacity saw him rewarded with the removal of the interim tag, despite the return of Warren Gatland. The Wales coach, who had signed a four-year deal to coach the Chiefs himself, instead took a role as Director of Rugby, acknowledging McMillan’s success.

“It’s nice to know what my immediate future looks like,” McMillan told SENZ Breakfast following the signing of his new contract. “I’ve got a great young squad building here so really easy decision for me, in the end, to stay with the Chiefs.

“We started some dialogue through the earlier rounds (about) extending and it’s only taken a bit of time really because I’ve wanted to put all our energy into making sure we get off to a decent start in the Super Rugby and obviously we’ve done that.”

The move puts to rest any speculation around McMillan’s involvement with the incoming All Blacks coaching group, led by Scott Robertson. The group is expected to be announced in the coming weeks and is rumoured to include both Hurricanes and Blues head coaches.

While McMillan’s name has been floated in conversations around the All Blacks group, he says at this point in his career, he’s in no rush and happy to build experience where he is. Further potential opportunities await in the form of the New Zealand U20s and Maori All Blacks – who he coached for their two-match series against Ireland in 2022 – but again, McMillan isn’t pushing the boat out just yet.

“That’s the sort of foundations I think I need to be able to confidently go into a role like the All Blacks or with another international team, it’s just accumulating experience and growing your craft and like I said I’m in no rush to go anywhere and I really enjoy what I’m doing at the moment.”