KK stays to 'build legacy' [Nelson Mail]

Head coach Kieran Keane has signed on with the Tasman Rugby Union for two more years, citing his intention to build a legacy and take the Makos to the top.

The Tasman Rugby Union beat out interest from other provincial unions and overseas clubs, offering Keane a new role and fulltime position as the director of professional rugby.

Keane said he was "thrilled" to be given the security of a two-year deal after five one-year contracts. While still coaching the Makos, his new role has the scope to oversee the development of the high performance programme and succession planning.

After finishing a season "for the ages", 75 per cent of the players have also re-signed and Keane is confident that continuity will help the promoted premiership team to more success.

"We want to go to the top and become a force in New Zealand rugby," said Keane, as he signed up yesterday. "That was motivation for me to stay. The attraction for me is that there is an opportunity to leave a legacy.

"[As a union] we are not very old and we are starting to shake the big boys' trees and that's great for the region's players of the future."

The Tasman Rugby Union was created when Nelson Bays and Marlborough joined forces to play as the Tasman Makos in the 2006 national provincial competition. Eight years and "a few wobbles" later, they are a championship winning team.

Keane played the conductor's role as the Tasman ensemble moved from cellar dwellers in 2011 to champions two seasons later.

He was appointed as Makos co-coach along with Bevan Cadwallader in 2009, succeeding Dennis Brown and Todd Blackadder. A year later, Keane was confirmed as the Tasman Makos' head coach with Leon MacDonald as his assistant.

Keane had previously been head coach of the Hawke's Bay NPC team from 2002 to 2004 before the Waikawa Bay resident coached Marlborough Boys' College First XV and the Marlborough Red Devils.

With only two wins in 2011 while developing the game plan, the TRU had faith in what was trying to be achieved, with many of those losses by narrow margins. A year later they were semifinalists. Then came 2013, which saw the attractive, running rugby game plan carried out with, at times, spectacular precision.

"We had a great season, one for the ages," said Keane. "It was pure theatre for me. It had all the ingredients of a drama."

Keane said there were a number of factors behind the team's success this season.

He pointed to an "outstanding" leadership group that controlled a game on the field, a stronger squad, sound goal kicking and a belief in the attacking game plan with the "polish" to pull it off.

New TRU boss Tony Lewis would say there is one factor missing in Keane's assessment: the influence of the former All Black whose first-class career stretched from 1977 to 1986 and included six outings with the All Blacks.

"Teams do well because of the environment that has been created, they want to play for each other and the coach," said Lewis.

"The team wanted him [so] we have worked very hard to secure KK's signature and it is outstanding for the team.

  

"I put the proposal to the board and the board were overjoyed, there wasn't one dissenting voice, everyone wants him to take the team to the next level."

Keane said his aims were to make the Makos a more viable option for professional rugby players, to strengthen the squad and to develop young local players so they are winning Super 15 contracts and getting picked for national teams.

"It's all about the young people," said Keane. "Where I am working with people who aspire to be the best, that is my dream job.

"That is the excitement for me, when I see four Tasman players representing New Zealand for the New Zealand Maori, that warms my heart.

"To see young players achieving, when I see our boys at Super 15 level from humble little old Tasman . . . that is what New Zealand rugby is about."

With the corner piece of the jigsaw puzzle in place, Lewis was due to meet with MacDonald yesterday as they pursue his signature. Keane said he hoped MacDonald would join him again as the Makos take on the premiership.

"Leon is a big part of my coaching group; he has been outstanding for me as an individual, a mate and a comrade. I personally hope he re-signs."

- © Fairfax NZ News