Rugby: Wellington rugby denies conniving in coach job

WELLINGTON - Unsuccessful candidate Wayne Guppy is not too despondent at missing out on the Wellington rugby coaching position to his good friend Dave Rennie.

Guppy and Colts coach Kevin Horan had put their names forward with Rennie for the position vacated by Graham Mourie, who is set to coach the Hurricanes.

Rennie, who was assistant coach to Mourie this year, will have Mourie as a technical adviser for the 2000 season, in a change which satisfies New Zealand Rugby Football Union regulations which prevent Super 12 coaches taking provincial sides.

Guppy was took the decision philosophically.

"What's happened is they haven't made any change, they've just reversed the role," Guppy said. "I view it as not having been rejected, they've just kept the status quo."

After successfully coaching the Wellington Development side for three seasons, Guppy has no immediate plans to look outside Wellington, and intends working closely with Rennie.

"We've played together, I've coached him, and I got him into coaching. We'll still have a beer together on Friday night, there'll be plenty of support there."

Rennie is aware of the criticism from some quarters that his appointment is a thinly veiled cover for retaining the services of Mourie as coach.

"I can understand people saying that, but I think those sorts of comments are coming from people removed from the team. Anyone who was close to the team would understand my involvement last season and would see through that."

And the Upper Hutt-based coach, who played 59 games for Wellington in the midfield till 1991, is determined to stamp his own mark on the team.

"I certainly wouldn't go into the job if it was a title thing only and then have no say. I've had a good chat to [Mourie] and we're pretty keen to continue along the same lines as last season."

Wellington chief executive David White said the appointment was very much in the interests of keeping the winning momentum going.

Rennie had a say in the selection of draft players coming to Wellington for the 2000 season, but emphasised that club players could still make the side.

- NZPA