Ex-All Blacks assistant coach Leon MacDonald looks set to land his first job since leaving Scott Robertson’s coaching team last year.
The experienced former Crusaders and Blues coach abruptly left the coaching set-up ahead of the back-to-back Test matches against the Springboks in South Africa last year with ‘differing views’ cited as the reasoning for the fallout.
Later in the year, it was reported that MacDonald’s departure proved to be a costly mistake for New Zealand Rugby, with the coach reportedly receiving a six-figure payoff.
Leon MacDonald lands new gig
MacDonald is now close to landing his first job since leaving the All Blacks, according to the New Zealand Herald, with the Western Force being the ‘surprise destination’.
The report adds that it is set to be a short-term director of rugby role where he will work alongside Simon Cron. MacDonald previously worked alongside Chris Goodman, the Force’s general manager, during their respective stints with the Crusaders and Tasman academies.
His departure from the All Blacks last year was highly criticised with legendary winger Jeff Wilson ruing the financial cost for New Zealand Rugby.
“The fact that they haven’t been able to work through it, this is a really expensive mistake for NZ Rugby,” Wilson said on The Breakdown.
“If you think about how much – I think he was on a four-year deal – they would have had to at least compensate Leon MacDonald for the commitment that he made.
“Also the jobs that he turned down to take this opportunity on board.”
Rugby Australia to swoop?
Since exiting Robertson’s coaching team, MacDonald has repeatedly been linked with a role within the Wallabies set-up particularly considering his relationship with Joe Schmidt after they worked at the Blues together.
The report adds that Rugby Australia are attempting to lure the former All Blacks back into a role in the Wallabies set-up in some capacity. However, the 47-year-old is intent on his stint Down Under being a short-term one.
Rugby Australia are currently in the process of finding Schmidt’s successor after it was confirmed that the head coach would be vacating the role after the Rugby Championship.
It is understood that the governing body’s preference is for an Australian to take over from Schmidt but the New Zealander is held in high regard after his success with the Blues which led to his elevation to the All Blacks coaching staff.
While MacDonald is reportedly keen on his stint being a brief one, the opportunity to step back into the international rugby scene will undoubtedly be tempting and with it unlikely to happen again with the All Blacks anytime soon, he could be persuaded to take up an opportunity with their rivals.
Src: Planetrugby.com - https://www.planetrugby.com/news/wallabies-ploy-to-lure-ex-all-blacks-coach-gathers-pace-after-new-zealand-rugbys-expensive-mistake-following-scott-robertson-fallout
