Springboks guru to lend expertise to New Zealand Super Rugby side

Tony-Brown-Japan-assistant-coach-RWC-2023-Alamy

The Blues have announced that former All Blacks fly-half and the new Springboks attack coach, Tony Brown, will join their ranks on a short-term contract to work as a consultant.

The 49-year-old will link up with the Auckland-based franchise after their assistant coach, Jason O’Halloran, was granted medical leave.

Medical related issue

O’Halloran was allowed time away from the Blues‘ pre-season preparations while he works through a personal medical issue related to his diabetes.

“The club are supporting Jason as he works through his personal medical situation, and we want to give him all the time and space he needs,” said the Blues’ chief executive Andrew Hore.

“We feel for Jason at this time; since being at the Blues, he’s made a real impact on staff, players and most notably his fellow coaches.

“He’ll be warmly welcomed back to Blues HQ when the time is right.”

That means O’Halloran’s absence will be filled in by Brown, who was one of the new additions to world champions South Africa‘s backroom staff as their new attack coach under the guidance of head coach Rassie Erasmus.

Brown will bring plenty of experience to the Blues’ set-up as he previously worked as an assistant coach for Japan from 2016 to the 2023 Rugby World Cup and was also the Highlanders head coach in 2017, 2021 and 2022.

Blues head coach Vern Cotter said the coaching staff were thinking of O’Halloran during this time and welcomed Brown’s addition to the group, albeit for a brief period.

“Boags (Jason) is our mate first and foremost and we feel for him, we hope he’ll be back with us soon,” said Cotter.

‘Little interruption’

“Realistically, having Tony in is a stop-gap measure while Jason recovers. It’s a testament to my coaching group that things have continued on with little interruption while he’s had some time away.”

The Blues will kick off their 2024 Super Rugby Pacific campaign against the Fijian Drua on Saturday, February 24 at Semenoff Stadium in Whangārei.