Former Highlanders head coach Jamie Joseph has returned to Dunedin after eight years away, joining the team in a new role as their head of rugby.
While he will not be blowing any whistles, he told 1News he was not done with coaching just yet.
"I've just turned 54, there's coaches out there at 64.
"I don't see myself as a retired rugby coach but this is a job opportunity that came out of nowhere, I wasn't expecting to be the head of rugby for the Highlanders but I live in Dunedin and it's an obvious team for me to be involved with.”
Joseph's role is to help and support the head coach and his coaching staff on and off the field.
Clarke Dermody said that Joseph’s influence over the next three years would be "huge".
"I've learnt so much in the last wee while. Not so much the rugby, but the setting up of the team, the environment and culture which Jamie is really strong in.
"The alignment he's creating around the coaching group, making sure we are on the same page and messaging that's going through to the players is really accurate."
This is a full circle moment for Dermody, as Joseph gave him his first coaching gig in 2014.
He watched Joseph lead the Highlanders to their first and only Super Rugby title a year later.
Now, Dermody is searching for a new era of success.
Joseph said he had "lots of good chats" regarding a review of last year's performance.
"There is a lot of young coaches, a young team and there's a big change of players. In and out of that review creates a lot of conversations of how we are going to get better.
"Rugby is changing in terms of expectation of the coach, so it's all about helping Clarke create the right environment so the team can reach their potential."
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