Chiefs Rugby coaching stuff confirmed for 2018

Chiefs Rugby head coach Colin Cooper has named a highly experienced coaching team to prepare his men for their 2018 Super Rugby title hunt. 

Cooper will be joined by returning coaches Neil Barnes, Andrew Strawbridge and Carl Hoeft, with the addition of Tabai Matson completing a quintet that features a combined 70 years of professional coaching experience.

Tabai Matson made 58 appearances for Canterbury and played 25 games for the Crusaders in the 1990s, before continuing his playing career abroad.
 
He joined Canterbury as their assistant coach in 2009, a role he held for three seasons before being promoted to head coach in 2012. He led Canterbury to their fifth successive national provincial championship title in his maiden year at the helm. In 2013 he joined the Crusaders coaching team and was also appointed assistant coach of the Maori All Blacks that same year, working alongside Colin Cooper for his three years with the national team.

Current assistant coach Neil Barnes has extended his contract for two years, while Carl Hoeft will continue his role at the Chiefs for the fifth successive season.

The Chiefs squad will be confirmed on November 1, with the squad commencing pre-season training at the end of November.