Rugby: Glenn Moore named Blues assistant

Glenn Moore. Photo / Dianne Manson.

Glenn Moore has been appointed assistant coach of the Blues for the 2015 and 2016 Investec Super Rugby seasons.

The former Highlanders head coach will be responsible for the forwards and the contact area, and will join the Blues fulltime at the conclusion of the Heartland Championship where he is the current Mid Canterbury head coach.

The Auckland-born Moore partners head coach Sir John Kirwan and assistant coach Grant Doorey in the coaching team, with a back skills coach to be appointed in the coming weeks.

Kirwan said he was delighted to welcome Moore to the Blues.

"He was a standout candidate and he's exactly what we need at the Blues," Kirwan said.

"He's widely respected throughout rugby circles and brings a wealth of experience which is really important because we're losing a little bit of that. He's also incredibly passionate about the game and I think he'll bring a really hard edge to the forward pack."

Moore said: "I'm really excited about the opportunity to join the coaching staff at the Blues and get back to coaching at an elite level. I was really impressed with JK's vision and passion for the franchise. That helped make it an easy decision to join the coaching team. I'm really looking forward to relocating up north and getting stuck in."

Moore boasts an impressive coaching résumé spanning more than 14 years.

The former Mid Canterbury loose forward coached North Otago from 2000-2005 and the New Zealand Divisional XV from 2003-2005.

He then became the Highlanders defence coach and Otago assistant coach in December 2005 before being promoted to Highlanders assistant coach in 2006 and becoming head coach from 2007-2010.

From 2010-2012 Moore was technical advisor for North Otago and he joined Mid Canterbury in 2013, leading them to a Championship title in his first year.