Pair join contest at Chiefs

By CHRIS RATTUE

Bryce Woodward and John Boe have joined the race to coach the Chiefs.

Woodward, the Northland coach, and Boe, who is in charge of the Samoan team, took until yesterday's deadline before deciding to apply.

They join Waikato coach Kiwi Searancke and Kevin Greene - the former Waikato coach who was John Mitchell's assistant at the Chiefs - as the leading known contenders for the job.

Woodward, who was raised in Te Awamutu, missed out on the Blues assistant job last year, and the top job this season.

"I had to be convinced in my own mind that I had a real shot at the Chiefs job," said Woodward, who wanted to concentrate on Northland's match against Southland before deciding.

Boe, a former Waikato coach who has had a series of Super 12 knockbacks, will step down as Samoa's coach at least temporarily should he win the Chiefs job.

A lot of important early Super 12 work is done in November, when Samoa will tour Ireland and Italy.

"It's not easy for me because I don't want to let Samoa down," said Boe, who was the Highlanders' assistant to Peter Sloane this year. "But this is something I've wanted for a long time."

Meanwhile, semifinalists North Harbour will be without hooker Ace Tiatia for the rest of the season.

Tiatia, who started against Wellington on Friday night, left yesterday to play in England. North Harbour did not want to block his ability to earn a decent living from rugby.

They rested Slade McFarland, who has a hamstring problem, knowing Tiatia was leaving.

McFarland is rated certain to be fit for Saturday's final-round match against Southland at Invercargill. His back-up will be national Colts hooker Joe Ward.