Monday 23 November 2015 23:28, UK
Todd Blackadder will step down as coach of the Crusaders at the end of the 2016 Super Rugby season.
Blackadder, a New Zealand international in his playing days, has been in charge of the Christchurch-based team since taking over from Robbie Deans in 2009.
He has led the Crusaders to four Super Rugby semi-finals and two finals, although both of those appearances ended in heart-breaking defeats.
Blackadder was part of the inaugural Crusaders side in 1996 and has a long association with the club, having spent only a handful of years away while working as a player and coach for Edinburgh.
He said: "This will be my eighth season coaching the Crusaders, and every minute in the role has been a privilege. But moving on at the end of the 2016 season is the right thing for me and the right thing for the team
"I have been so fortunate to be able to do my dream job for all of these years, but eight years is a relatively long time in coaching and I feel that the time is right for someone else to take the reins and lead the team in their own direction in the future.
"One of the important things to come out of our 2015 season review is that distractions were a problem for us last season, so that is why I was keen to make my intentions clear before the season begins to avoid my future becoming a distraction for the team during the 2016 season,"
Blackadder said he had no firm plans for beyond the 2016 season and would probably not make any until his time with the Crusaders is over.
"I am thinking no further ahead than the season that is in front of me. I am incredibly excited about the 2016 season and what happens beyond that is immaterial right now," he added.
"There have been some big changes in the BNZ Crusaders with some significant players moving on and a number of new, younger players coming into the mix, and I think that signals some really exciting times ahead."
