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Cape Town - Hurricanes assistant coach John Plumtree is set to succeed Northampton-bound Chris Boyd as the Wellington-based franchise's head coach.
Plumtree confirmed on Monday that he was negotiating with the Hurricanes to take over the reins from Boyd, who will become the Saints' director of rugby from August this year.
Plumtree, who previously guided the Durban-based Sharks to a Super Rugby final which they lost to the Chiefs in 2012, said he had no plans to coach anywhere but Wellington.
Like Boyd, Plumtree is off contract at the end of this season. He extended his contract with the Hurricanes in 2016, after the Highlanders tried to lure him to coach them in Dunedin.
At the time it was assumed that Plumtree opted to stay with the Hurricanes because he was promised the head coaching role once Boyd's contract expired.
"I don't think I'd be cheeky enough to put that (clause) in my contract," Plumtree told the Stuff website on Monday.
Plumtree was linked to an assistant coach's role with the All Blacks in 2017. Boyd dismissed the reports at the time, saying he and Plumtree had a succession plan in the place at the Hurricanes and nothing had changed.
"Maybe in Boydy's and my world, but there's other decision makers around all of that," said Plumtree.
"If it happens, it happens. There would be a lot of continuity if it happened, but at the same time you can't take anything for granted in the rugby business.
"We'll just see what happens this week. I'm happy doing whatever as long as I'm coaching here."
Although Plumtree said he would be happy with any role at the Hurricanes, he and Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee have been in talks for some time.
Their negotiations been conducted in greater earnest since Boyd decision to take over at Northampton was confirmed on January 26.
The Hurricanes are now keen to sort out Plumtree's new contract so that the team can focus solely on the upcoming Super Rugby season.
Plumtree confirmed that announcement on his future would be made "pretty soon."
