New Zealand’s junior representative teams and the New Zealand Maori team will have new coaches next season.
The New Zealand Rugby Union announced the appointment of Donny Stevenson as the Maori coach after Matt Te Pou stepped down in June after 11 years in charge.
Stevenson’s assistants will be Wellington forwards coach and former All Black Jamie Joseph and former All Black Stu Forster, who has been the Maori team’s technical analyst for the past two years.
Highlanders coach Greg Cooper has been appointed coach of the Under-21 side replacing Bryce Woodward, who has stood down from the role, while current Taranaki coach Kieran Crowley takes over from Aussie McLean as the Under-19 coach.
"We are really privileged to have coaches of their calibre involved with our national teams and I am sure that they will continue the outstanding work of their predecessors," NZRU deputy chief executive Steve Tew said.
The Maoris will compete in next year’s Churchill Cup while the Under-19 and Under-21 teams will take part in their respective IRB World Championship tournaments.
