RUGBY - Stevenson eyes overseas

Ongoing delays in the New Zealand rugby coaching appointment process has forced Donny Stevenson to explore his options overseas even though he is keen to pick up the job as NZ Maori coach for a third term next year.
Stevenson, who works as a club liaison officer for the Northland Rugby Union, was appointed NZ Maori coach when Matt Te Pou stood down two years ago. The NZ Maori team have continued their success since, their only hiccup a loss to England B in the final of the Churchill Cup in England earlier this year.
Stevenson's position is under contractual review, his latest term ending when the team arrived home from Churchill Cup duties earlier this year.
But the NZRU have yet to even advertise the position and short list candidates, let alone make a decision. It is a frustrating wait for Stevenson, especially as the NZ Maori team have been added to the Pacific Nations Cup tournament this year and are set to play fixtures in New Zealand for the first time since they beat the British and Irish Lions two years ago.
"We always welcome the opportunity to play at home, but the reality is that we have not had a home game since we played the Lions and we have only played three (home games) in the last seven years," Stevenson said.
"So the chance to prepare a team for a competition like the Pacific Cup that has us playing three games at home in one season is a pretty attractive one," he said.
The NZ Maori team will play at Albany, Hamilton and Napier in next year's Pacific Nations Cup.
New Zealand Maori play in the competition for the first time next year, replacing the Junior All Blacks, and will play home games against Tonga, Samoa and Japan.
Even though Stevenson has overseen ongoing success with the NZ Maori squad, he was not willing to predict the outcome of the national coaching review and reappointment process.
So now Stevenson is testing the waters overseas, saying the chance to pick up a coaching position in England or Europe was tempting.
"If I did not get the Maori job then overseas would pretty much be a certainty.
"Until now I have been happy to potter along doing what I have been doing, but the time is right at home with the kids all out of home to look at other options," he said.
"The Maori programme is a very attractive this year though.
"Our desire has always been to play at home in front of home crowds and we get the chance to do that next season."
But getting added to the Pacific Nations Cup schedule will also require more in-depth preparation, invaluable time that may be cut short if the NZRU don't confirm coaching appointments before the Super 14 season kicks off in February.
The Churchill Cup was a tournament style competition with games played twice a week. The Pacific Nations Cup draw is spread over six weeks.
"With this you can get your team systems working a little better with more training and preparation time," he said.
That would also mean more detailed analysis for selections, analysis usually carried out during the Super 14 season.
But until a coaching team has been appointed it is difficult to start planning.
"The option to head overseas is more just a matter of considering everything. It is just putting my name out there to see what might happen," Stevenson said.