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Cape Town - After leaving Leicester Tigers, former All Black centre
Aaron Mauger has signed to the Highlanders as assistant coach on a two-year
deal.
Mauger has impressed during coaching tenures as the
assistant coach of the Crusaders in 2013 and 2014 and more recently as the head
coach of Leicester. His coaching term with the Tigers began in 2015 and
concluded this season with this year's team lifting the Anglo-Welsh Cup.
Mauger will be moving to Dunedin in late July with his wife
Amy and four children and is looking forward to the opportunity.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the Highlanders
next season. The club have worked extremely hard over the last four to five
years in particular to create an environment that allows the people and the
team to perform at their best and to the highest levels. I feel very privileged
to be joining the club and to be in a position on the coaching staff where I can
help add to the fantastic structure put in place and help grow the team and
club to achieve future success," he said.
Following on from his overseas experience, finding the right
club in New Zealand was important.
"I like what the Highlanders stand for, I know we are
going to a family orientated club and that was a critical factor for us when
making our decision," he said. "As a family we had lots of
discussions with some key people to assure ourselves us that the Highlanders
and the city of Dunedin would be the perfect place for Amy and I to bring our
family and for me to continue growing as a person and as a coach."
Highlanders CEO Roger Clark was delighted with the appointment, adding: "With the departure of Tony Brown at the end of the season we were on the lookout for another quality attack coach for the next few years. I know the whole club are absolutely thrilled that Aaron has chosen the Highlanders as the next step in his coaching career. Coaches of his ability are keenly sought after globally and to retain his services is excellent news. We perceive a really good fit for him here at the Pulse Energy Highlanders and it will renew the emphasis our club has put on playing innovative and exciting rugby."
