KEY POINTS:
Wellington Rugby has appointed Alama Ieremia and Jamie Joseph as assistant coaches of the Wellington Lions in the Air New Zealand Cup.
The former international team-mates have 50 All Blacks caps between them and a wealth of experience in New Zealand and Japan.
They will work alongside coach Aussie McLean, who is also the assistant coach of the Hurricanes.
Ieremia is to return from Japan where he has been playing and coaching for the last six years. For the last two years Ieremia has been coaching the backs at top four Japanese side Suntory.
Joseph, a specialist line out coach for the Lions this season, will be the forwards coach and has been drawn to the role by McLean's impressive CV. He says it is good to learn from someone like that.
Wellington Chief Executive Greg Peters says Ieremia and Joseph are two top coaching prospects, and they have been brought through with a view to the future.
The move would appear to leave this year's assistant coach Chris Boyd on the outer although Peters says they would like to keep him employed in the union.
- NEWSTALK ZB
