Leon MacDonald to coach Makos in 2016

Leon MacDonald will replace long-time mentor Kieran Keane as the Tasman Makos head coach next year.

The former All Blacks fullback has been Keane's assistant for the past five seasons and is the natural replacement to step into the head coaching role when Keane departs to join the Chiefs in 2016.

The Tasman Rugby Union have always considered themselves "lucky" to have two head coach quality operators within their ranks, and chief executive Tony Lewis believes MacDonald can continue to build on the team's success.

"We believe he is head coach material, he's been part of the programme for five years and it's time for him to step up," Lewis said. 

"He's got all the attributes of a head coach. He's very technically sound, he's strategically thinking, he's innovative, he's strong and he's been part of the success we've had in the past few years. It was a no brainer."

The Tasman Rugby Union mapped out numerous succession plans in case either Keane or MacDonald -- or even both -- left after the 2015 national provincial championship season, and when it became apparent that the Chiefs were keen to secure the services of Keane next year, they quickly went about retaining MacDonald.

A clause was put into his current contract that he would become head coach in 2016 if Keane was to leave and Lewis said he will now be offered a two-year deal.

MacDonald rejected offers to join the Crusaders coaching staff as an assistant but Lewis believes he is capable of coaching at Super Rugby level down the line and said it was better for his growth to have experience as a head coach.

"This will help take him to that next level and we hope to see him as the head coach of a Super Rugby franchise in the next three or four years.

"We're over the moon that he decided to stay and it's given him the opportunity to take the Makos to the next level and to put Kieran Keane's succession plan into place that he's been running with the young players."

MacDonald was born in Blenheim, attended Marlborough Boys' College and played for the Marlborough Red Devils, and Lewis said it was important to have another local at the helm of the team.

Lewis said MacDonald will have the freedom to select his preferred candidate to take over the assistant coach role.

MacDonald and Keane will continue in their current roles with the Tasman Makos for the upcoming ITM Cup season.