Clark Laidlaw will be the next Hurricanes head coach. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
The Hurricanes have shown their hand first by revealing All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw will return to the franchise next season to fill their vacant head coach role.
Four Super Rugby Pacific sides - Crusaders, Hurricanes, Blues and Moana Pasifika - have been on the hunt for new coaches for 2024 after current coaches Scott Robertson (Crusaders), Jason Holland (Hurricanes) and Leon MacDonald (Blues) were confirmed as part of the All Blacks coaching staff. Moana Pasifika lost Aaron Mauger after he ended his contract a year early.
Laidlaw was an assistant to former Hurricanes head Coaches Mark Hammett and Chris Boyd between 2013 and 2015 before he made the switch to lead a successful sevens programme.
"I am really proud of all we have achieved with the All Blacks Sevens. We've seen a lot of success but also had our fair share of challenges," Laidlaw said.
"The ability to coach a national team for pinnacle events, with the opportunities, learnings and team connections that come with it is really special. It felt like the right time to take on a new challenge as head coach of the Hurricanes, while building on what is already a really strong team."
In 2018, a year after becoming All Blacks Sevens head coach, Laidlaw guided New Zealand to gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and won the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
Since then, Laidlaw has led his team to World Rugby Sevens Series titles in 2020 and 2023 and won a silver medal at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee said he was "thrilled" to see Laidlaw confirmed as the next Hurricanes head coach.
"His coaching record speaks for itself in terms of success. He's done a superb job for the Sevens, so we're thrilled to see him return to the Hurricanes and continue to build on the great work of Jason Holland and the current wider coaching team. Clark will bring a unique set of skills to the Hurricanes and help our club realise its ambitions.
"We're excited about what he will bring to the club on-field but also look forward to watching his influence on the culture and our people."
NZR general manager professional rugby and performance Chris Lendrum congratulated Laidlaw on his new role with the Hurricanes, while acknowledging his service and success with the All Blacks Sevens.
"Clark's move to the Hurricanes is an exciting progression in his coaching career and is a great example of how new and different experiences develop our top coaches. He has constantly challenged himself throughout his six-year tenure with the All Blacks Sevens, developed a large number of young men on and off the field, and achieved a huge amount of success."