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By Greg Stutchbury
WELLINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) – Former All Blacks winger
John Kirwan has been named as the new coach of the struggling
Auckland Blues Super Rugby franchise, the team said on Tuesday.
The 47-year-old Kirwan, who also coached the Italy and Japan
national teams, replaces Pat Lam, who spent four years in charge
of the team in New Zealand’s largest city.
The New Zealand Rugby Union had opened the job up for
applications as the Blues lurched through a terrible Super Rugby
season to miss the playoffs and finish 12th in the 15-team
southern hemisphere provincial competition.
“This is an exciting time. I am honoured to be given the
opportunity to lead the Blues next season in what I hope will be
a new era of success and innovation,” Kirwan said in a
statement.
“I’m also thrilled about coming back to New Zealand and home
to Auckland after several years overseas.
“I am a proud Blues man and I started my rugby career in the
region so I am really excited about connecting with fans and
working with the Blues community.
“There is certainly some hard work ahead and I am looking
forward to the challenge.”
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