Jamie Joseph confirmed as Highlanders Coach

New Zealand Maori and Wellington Lions Coach Jamie Joseph has been confirmed as the new Head Coach of the Highlanders Super Rugby team, the New Zealand Rugby Union and Highlanders announced today.

The 40-year-old former All Black and Otago representative will remain with Wellington’s ITM Cup squad until he takes up his new position. Joseph will transition to his new role by the end of August. A new assistant coach for the Highlanders is also expected to be announced in the next week.

As Head Coach of the Wellington provincial team over the past two seasons, Joseph has taken the team to Final berths in 2008 and 2009 and also won the Ranfurly Shield from Auckland in 2008 holding it for five defences. This year, he coached the Maori team in its centenary year with assistant coach Daryl Gibson leading the team to a clean sweep over the New Zealand Barbarians, Ireland and England in the Sealord New Zealand Maori Centenary Series.

NZRU General Manager of Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen and Highlanders chairman Ross Laidlaw welcomed Joseph’s appointment as a positive move for Joseph and for the Highlanders.

“Jamie had three fantastic wins with the New Zealand Maori this year and two positive seasons with Wellington. His own successful career as a player gives him an added layer as a coach and his teams benefit from that.

“Stepping up to a Super Rugby side is a natural progression for Jamie, and it’s a move I am sure the Highlanders will capitalise on,” said Sorensen.

Ross Laidlaw said Joseph had been impressive during the Sealord New Zealand Maori Centenary Series and during his provincial rugby coaching career.

“Jamie is one of those solid figures in rugby – he was an imposing player both for the All Blacks and for Otago. He has expressed his commitment as Head Coach not only to the Highlanders, but also to our three provincial unions. We are extremely pleased – indeed excited – that Jamie will lead the Highlanders during their last season at Carisbrook and thereafter at the new Forsyth Barr Stadium,” Laidlaw said.

Laidlaw paid tribute to outgoing Highlanders Coach Glenn Moore.

“We are very thankful to Glenn for his loyalty and great work with the team and franchise. He has consistently put the interests of the team first and we thank him for his enormous contribution,” Laidlaw said.

Meanwhile, Jamie Joseph is looking forward to the new challenge.

“The Highlanders are an exciting team with a great mix of experience and plenty of new potential. This is a great opportunity for me and one I am looking forward to,” he said.

Jamie Joseph’s strong affiliation with the south includes a provincial rugby career for Otago after heading to Otago University in 1989. He played 68 games for the province as a lock and then a loose forward until 1995.

His All Blacks career spanned 30 matches including 20 Tests from 1992 to 1995 including the 1995 Rugby World Cup. He also played 10 matches for New Zealand Maori from 1991 to1994 helping the team to its Churchill Cup victory in 2006, with wins over New South Wales, the USA, Ireland A and Scotland A. He also has the distinction of playing international rugby for Japan, appearing for the Cherry Blossoms in the 1999 Rugby World Cup.

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