RUGBY - Woodward aims to coach at Super 14 level

A desire to coach at Super 14 level was a driving force behind a familiar name's return to the Northland rugby fold.
Bryce Woodward was announced yesterday as the new Northland coach, replacing Auckland-bound Mark Anscombe.
Mr Woodward's return as head coach of the team had the Northland rugby faithful nodding their heads approvingly.
His last term at the helm, from 1999 to 2002, is regarded as one of the most successful Northland coaching tenures of the professional era.
His decision to reapply was prompted by a desire to keep his rugby coaching profile active.
Mr Woodward wants to coach at Super 14 level and has signed a two-year contract for Northland with an ambition to try to add a Super 14 team to a coaching resum? that already includes two world age-group titles.
He had been keen on returning to the representative coaching scene for some time.
"Last year was too early from a business point of view.
"If I didn't move on this year I was really resigning myself to the fact that, while I might have been able to coach Northland again, the opportunity to go higher would not have existed," Mr Woodward said.
"I would be willing to go to any franchise team, to be honest. Who knows where the opportunities may pop up? Really for me the next three years will determine whether opportunities present themselves," he said.
Mr Woodward said he would have a squad of players remain in training over summer but pledged to try to develop homegrown talent next season.
"Clearly under Mark [Anscombe] and Bruce [Robertson] there were some gains, a fair whack of those gains were on imported experience. We can consolidate and improve those gains with a little bit more local talent, rather than continually relying on experienced guys near the end of their careers."
Mr Anscombe leaves Northland with a coaching record of 10 wins and two draws from 28 matches.
The team finished the 2008 season one point away from the playoffs after defeating North Harbour, Manawatu and Auckland in succession.
Former All Black centre Bruce Robertson, currently Northland's high performance manager, is tipped to become Mr Anscombe's assistant coach.