Monkley enters off-field fray

By CHRIS RATTUE

Waikato rugby icon Duane Monkley is at the centre of a tussle over who will be the manager of the union's NPC side this season.

The 34-year-old Monkley, a Waikato rugby development officer, is understood to be the preferred choice of coach Kiwi Searancke.

But at least some on the Waikato board want Dennis Brown, their high-performance manager who coaches the national under-19 side, to be the NPC manager.

Waikato and the Chiefs Super 12 side are seeking managers after the retirement of Steve Gilbert, who has taken a job with a Government department in Wellington.

Gilbert managed Waikato for eight years and the Chiefs for all six of their Super 12 seasons.

Searancke is overseas and could not be contacted, but Waikato and Chiefs chief executive Gary Dawson said there would be "more discussions this week."

Dawson said that since Gilbert's departure it had been decided to have separate managers for the Super 12 and NPC sides.

Former Waikato wing Doug Wilson is favoured for the Chiefs job.

Chiefs coach John Mitchell, who played alongside Wilson in Waikato teams, wants his former team-mate as his manager.

Meanwhile, Dawson said he was confident Mitchell would remain in Waikato at least until the end of next year, when his Super 12 contract with the New Zealand Rugby Football Union expires.

A Sunday newspaper reported that the former England assistant coach is a target of the England Rugby Football Union for a top coaching position.

The report suggested the job could be worth more than $700,000 a year.

Mitchell declined to comment when approached by the Herald yesterday.

He turned down a huge contract with England last year, bringing his family back to New Zealand, and has said money is not the overriding factor when he makes decisions about his career.