Nucifora retained as Blues' coach

Blues coach David Nucifora. Picture / Brett Phibbs

David Nucifora has retained his job as the Blues' Super 14 rugby coach after a performance review.

The Auckland-based franchise said today that he and assistant Joe Schmidt would be back at the helm next season.

The Blues finished a disappointing eighth in Nucifora's first season in charge, with six wins and seven losses, after having been rated a possible title contender.

An Australian, Nucifora became the first foreigner to coach a New Zealand Super rugby side when he signed a two-year contract last July.

The Blues said the coaching review included feedback from the board, players, management staff, sponsors, referees and news media.

While the on-field results were disappointing, there was overwhelming support for Nucifora and Schmidt, it said.

The review, led by New Zealand Rugby Union director Graham Mourie, pointed to improvements in team structure and organisation.

Blues' board member Andy Haden said retaining Nucifora and Schmidt showed that the franchise was committed to the work they had done and was confident of an improvement in on-field results.

Nucifora was overseas and unavailable for comment.

Before coming to Auckland, he was coach of the Brumbies, guiding them to the Super 12 title in 2004, his third and final season in charge.

After a falling out with Brumbies, he joined the Blues as technical adviser to then-coach Peter Sloane.

- NZPA