Rugby: Crusaders to add a fourth coach

The Crusaders will advertise the role for an attack coach. Photo / Getty Images

The Crusaders will beef up their coaching team in 2013, bringing the total to four, after a review of this year's season identified some shortcomings with the existing setup.

Todd Blackadder (head coach) and Dave Hewett (assistant forwards coach) will retain their roles but Daryl Gibson will take on defensive responsibilities. The trio will also be joined by an attack coach, with the job being advertised this week.

"At the end of any season we conduct a thorough review of what worked, what didn't work, and what we will do differently next time," Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach said.

"While we are very proud of the team for making the playoffs once again this year, we all want to do even better than that next year. So we've been taking a long, hard look at where our performance this season could have been improved and approached all possible changes with an open mind.

"This is one of the changes that the coaches, management and board all believe will put us in the best possible position to maximise our performance in 2013."

Blackadder said the new structure would give his side a better chance of success in 2013.

"One of the areas that the coaches identified as needing more of a specialised focus in future is our defence and attack play," he said. "The reality is that the modern game has evolved to the point where the degree of information, analysis and coaching needs of the players require specialised attention as opposed to simply a generic backs coach. That is why we are moving to having coaches that will have defence and attack as their primary responsibility, as well as the existing head coach and assistant forwards coach positions."