@ Gigga #6

Don't worry, you don't have to even play much at all to coach the All Blacks to there worst world cup exit. Not a great example mate.

Returning All Blacks have a free reign when returning to NZ. I agree that they should serve an apprenticeship first because coaching is about more than having knowledge of the sport. Coaches who have plied their trade in lower grades and using that as a stepping stone towards higher honours can feel pretty aggrieved by the way they get treated by higher profile candidates. There are plenty of examples in history where great players don't make great coaches. While I'm at it Carl Hayman and Aaron Mauger should stay in England. Lets reward the guys who were loyal to NZ rugby and have faith in the development of our younger players. I can't stand players who want their cake and eat it. We couldn't win the world cup when they were last here. How is 3 years playing rugby in England going to change things.

Olly @7- what mindless drivel you post. Where do I start? Tana coached Toulon from mid table 2nd Division into French Top 16 my learned numbskull little dew drop!!!

Deans is by far the most complete coach on the planet. By your reckoning with this culture / hard work mantra for the Saders they should have won again this year aye but they didnt... Results dont always account for a coaches ability consider their ability to turn lumps of coals into diamonds on a regular basis dew drop!

Like a poster said further down - if these players have half a brain and pick up a bit here and there from all their coaches then they actually ARE alot further advanced than any NZRFU Palmerston Nth Rugby Academy trained robot.

I understand where you are coming from Gigga regarding pro players and I certainly agree they will have learnt much from playing, and I never said they can't coach. But their playing experiences shouldn't give them the right to be fast-tracked over guys who have coached club and junior rep rugby for 5+ years. This is part of what's killed grassroots rugby because these ex top players are either quitting the game for good once they retire, or they are going straight to coaching at a professional level. Therefore grassroots players don't get the experience of learning from or playing with these guys. There are exceptions where non reknowned players have done well in coaching such as Graham Henry but he was coaching back in the amateur days and coached for decades before getting the AB role. And I hate to say it but as a Kiwi (and proud AB fan) I would feel very wrong calling the AB's the number 1 team in the world given they lost 3 out of 3 against the current world champions during 2010.

Kieran and Leon would be a great combination, and would represent both marlborough and nelson very well. Leon is a great tactitian and organiser so behind an established coach with structures he would do very well and fit in great with the Makos. Shame that Fotuali has left, he great for Tasman, along with Andrew Goodman, they are big holes to fill in the Makos.

The old boys network strikes again, first there was Hammet with no experience getting the coaching job as Robbies yes man. Then comes in Gibson no experience, oh thats right he was player coach one season in some useless scottish competition. yeah the crusaders went well, but they're all about culture and hard work down there its nothing to do with coaching ability. .Just look at how Auzzie are doing now, under Deans no culture or blood and guts to full back on, so Robbie suddenly has to start coaching and the results speak for themselves. How about how Goldie and Dowd had a great year with harbor not!! No wonder with their lack of experience, and then there's Martin Johnston with England Tana with his french cash cow.

Come on guys get a grip get some real coaches in there. Vern Cotter Peter Russell did the hard yards and our now doing well.

A good coach that doesnt have much of a playing CV hmmmm, theres a name on the tip of my tongue but I cant quite remember it.... Oh thats right Graeme Henry! why bother? because you can become the coach of the worlds number 1 team. And playing at the highest level doesnt mean you can coach, but it certainly doesnt mean you cant coach either! What people fail to see is that a lot of NZ players in lower grade rugby nations like Japan in Leons case, end up in a roll of player coach. And if you have been coached by some of the best coaches in the world and not picked up a few things on the way then you are an idiot. Leon is going to be assistant coach and he will be brilliant!

I'm with Steve, I'm sure there will be a real job out there somewhere for Leon (maybe CRFU should take the odd lotto ticket in hopes of subsidising the re-employment of former players), and let someone who has done the hard yards on the sideline have a crack at coaching.

Great Another top player with no coaching experience potentially taking up a coaching position from more deserving candidates. Why do provinces continue down this path. If I were a good coach in NZ but didn't have much of a playing CV why the hell would I bother continuing in coaching in this country. It seems the coaching pathway is non-existent unless you have been an AB.

Great news!! Leon will be a good assistant to Keano. Keano is one of the best coaches in NZ period having won 2nd Division titles with Hawkes Bay a couple of times at a time when the Bay had little resource to go shopping for players like they have over recent years. Keano has a record of turning coal into diamonds and admittedly his man-management, communication has seen him fall afoul of officialdom but his results with all teams he has coached speak volumes for his ability. The Makos have always had weak coaching and have only produced when Blackadder and Keano were at the helm. Good stuff!