Putt to steer Counties-Manukau in NPC from 2006

Former Sharks Super 12 coach Kevin Putt will coach Counties-Manukau in the revamped NPC rugby competition from next season.

The former Springboks and Waikato halfback has been appointed head coach for three years, ahead of current coach Mark Carter.

"A key component of our preparations for a return to the elite level of provincial rugby has been to identify and appoint a coach who has had experience at the professional level of the game, as well as the technical knowledge and leadership skills," Counties-Manukau chief executive Nick Sheppard said.

Putt's appointment was made by a selection panel that included New Zealand Rugby Union president John Graham, former All Blacks coach John Hart, Chiefs and New Zealand Junior All Blacks coach Ian Foster.

Putt, who began his first-class playing career with Otago in 1984, went on to represent Waikato 52 times before moving to South Africa in 1992.

His career blossomed and he represented Natal 128 times and was the Springboks halfback from 1994 to 1996.

In 1998 he moved to the London Irish club in London where he ended his playing days as player-coach before starting a fulltime coaching career.

He returned to Durban to coach the Sharks in three Currie Cup and four Super 12 campaigns.

However, he was sacked by the Sharks during this year's Super 12 after a string of losses and he returned home and started teaching in Hamilton.

Putt will start on his new job in two weeks.

"I'm delighted to be presented with this opportunity," he said today.

"Counties-Manukau has long been a producer of phenomenal athletes and there appears a solid base that we can build upon as we ready ourselves for the first division,

"Initially my work will be focused on talent identification, recruitment and to oversee planning in areas such as high performance."

- NZPA