Ashburton born-and-bred Black Ferns coach Glenn Moore will form part of the Mid Canterbury coaching line-up for the 2019 Heartland Championship. Photo supplied.Mid Canterbury’s new Heartland Championship rugby coaching line-up for 2019 has been named, and it features a man who led Mid Canterbury through two of their most successful campaigns in recent seasons.

Well-regarded and successful international-level rugby coach Glenn Moore had been appointed to a newly created position of director of rugby for the Mid Canterbury Rugby Union.

A key part of that role would be helping to coach Mid Canterbury in the 2019 Heartland Championship, along with Dale Palmer and Jason Rickard, who were assistant coaches of this year’s squad.

Mid Canterbury Rugby Union (MCRU) chief executive Ian Patterson said a new part-time role had been created following a review of the 2018 season, which identified the need to develop a more integrated player and coach development pathway which provided ongoing support and mentoring to coaches and players.

That role would be taken on by Moore, who was also the current Black Ferns coach.

“We are very pleased to have secured the services of Glenn, he will be a huge asset to the union,” Patterson said.

“His skill set will significantly strengthen the union’s local coach development pathway and Glenn brings his outstanding leadership, knowledge and experience to our Heartland campaign.”

Moore said his primary role would be developing and supporting both coaches and players.

“I see it as an opportunity to help.

“I’m back living in the area so to be able to put something back into the community and the grassroots part of the game is a good thing,” Moore said.

The 2018 season was one of Mid Canterbury’s worst in recent seasons, only making the Lochore Cup (fifth to eighth) play offs after a player eligibility rule breach by the West Coast saw them deducted points and drop to ninth on the table, propelling Mid Canterbury to eighth.

They lost their Lochore Cup semi-final to Horowhenua-Kapiti.

Moore coached the Hammers to consecutive Meads Cup (top four) wins in 2013 and 2014.

“It was just a good period.

“The time was right and we had a committed group and a fresh-look coaching staff, and a good group of players who were really focused and wanted to achieve,” Moore said.

From there Moore took up an assistant coach role with the Blues Super Rugby franchise, and then coached the national Black Ferns women’s side to a win at the 2017 Rugby World Cup.

The team then became the first ever women’s team to be named World Rugby Team of the Year in 2017.

Prior to his time with Mid Canterbury back in 2013 and 2014, Moore coached North Otago, Otago and the Highlanders, and Patterson said he brought a wealth of knowledge to his new role and was keen to contribute to the development of coaches and players within the Mid Canterbury region.

In his new role, Moore would lead the preparation of the Mid Canterbury Heartland Championship side and assist in the development of the MCRU’s performance pathway and coaches.

That pathway included under-18 to senior representative squads.

Moore moved back to Ashburton earlier this year to take up the position of general manager at the Smallbones dealership in Tinwald, commuting for his role with the Black Ferns.

His contract to coach the Black Ferns goes through to the end of 2019.

By Erin Tasker © The Ashburton Guardian - 22 December 2018