Plumtree chooses Wellington over Ireland

Wellington: John Plumtree is to quit his job as forwards coach for Six-Nations champions Ireland after being confirmed on Monday as part of a new coaching set up with the Wellington Hurricanes Super 15 side.

Plumtree will be the assistant to new Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd, who replaces incumbent Mark Hammett at the end of this season. In the revolving world of coaching, Hammett is taking up a new post with the Welsh side Cardiff Blues. Plumtree and Boyd have previously worked together at the Durban-based Coastal Sharks, where their roles were reversed, with Plumtree as the head coach. Boyd is currently coach of the Wellington side in New Zealand`s domestic competition, a post previously held by Plumtree before he moved to South Africa in 2007. "Their skillsets complement each other greatly and we know they have worked successfully together in the past with the Wellington Lions and the Sharks," New Zealand Rugby general manager Neil Sorensen said when announcing the appointments. "We are excited to see what this coaching duo will bring in 2015 and beyond." The Hurricanes are strong contenders to make the Super 15 play-offs this year for the first time since they were beaten as semi-finalists in 2009.