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Former All Black and current Crusaders Assistant Coach Mark Hammett has been appointed Head Coach of the Hurricanes for two years from 2011, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Hurricanes franchise announced today.

Hurricanes Technical Advisor and fellow former All Black Alama Ieremia will take on a new role with the team as Assistant Coach in 2011. Current Hurricanes Assistant Coach Jono Philips will take on a new role as Hurricanes High Performance Manager following the 2010 Rebel Sport Super 14 season.

Hurricanes Chief Executive Greg Peters and NZRU General Manager of Professional Rugby Neil Sorensen both welcomed the appointments as positive moves for the Hurricanes franchise.

Hammett, who will continue with the Crusaders’ 2010 Rebel Sport Super 14 campaign, said he was excited about the appointment and the opportunity came up at the right time.

“This is a great opportunity, and I am looking forward to stepping up to the responsibility of being Head Coach.  The Hurricanes have a strong and proud team and I’m looking forward to being part of building on the great work already achieved,” Hammett said.

Neil Sorensen said Hammett had been a strong contender for the Crusaders Head Coach position two years ago.  As Assistant Coach to Todd Blackadder and before him Robbie Deans, Hammett had shown himself to be a formidable figure for the Crusaders.

“As a former All Black and Super Rugby player himself, Hammer brings another element to his philosophy and approach to work as a coach, and that can only be great for the team. He is ready to step up to the top job and we are delighted that he has chosen to stay in New Zealand to do so with the Hurricanes from 2011,” Sorensen said.

Greg Peters said Hammett’s current Rebel Sport Super 14 experience would be a huge benefit to the Hurricanes.

“This is just fantastic that we can have someone of his coaching calibre and experience to lead us into a new era.  I have no doubt that he will make a major contribution to the team’s efforts next year,” Greg Peters said.

Mark Hammett:

Born:  July 1972, Christchurch

Coaching debut:  2005

A member of the original Crusaders side in 1996, Hammett is now in his fourth season as Assistant Coach.  The former All Blacks hooker played 81 matches for the Crusaders between 1996 and 2003, including four championship wins.  He made 76 appearances for his Canterbury province (1996-2002) as well as featuring in 29 Tests during his All Blacks career including two World Cup campaigns in 1999 and 2003.  Hammett has been a Technical Advisor to Canterbury Rugby since 2005, and was Technical Advisor to the Crusaders in 2005 before becoming Assistant Coach in 2006.  He was part of the championship winning Crusades in Super Rugby campaigns in 2005, 2006 and 2008.

Alama Ieremia:

Born:  October 1970, Apia

Ieremia started his international career playing for Samoa in 1992-1993, and in July 1994 the midfield back made his All Blacks debut.  He has 40 All Blacks matches to his name, including 30 Tests and made 45 appearances for the Hurricanes (1996 – 2000).  After seven years of playing and coaching in Japan, Ieremia was the Wellington Lions Assistant Coach in 2007, Coach of the Wellington Academy and Colts teams in 2008, and has been Technical Advisor for the Hurricanes since 2009.