Hurricanes coach Chris Boyd signs new two-year contract
Monday 8 August 2016 10:50, UK
The Hurricanes celebrated their breakthrough Super Rugby title win on Sunday with the confirmation that coach Chris Boyd will be staying on for the next two years.
The New Zealand franchise finally claimed the trophy that's evaded them with a 20-3 win over the Golden Lions from South Africa on Saturday.
They scored the only two tries of the match against a Lions side that wilted towards the end and paid the price for taking the Jaguares too lightly in the final game of the regular season.
A point in that game would have seen the Lions host the final, and while coach Johan Ackermann will have to live with outcome of playing an under-strength side then, he can take credit for taking a team to the latter stages.
As the Hurricanes celebrated, the most relieved man was coach Boyd, who had been haunted by last year's final when they started as hot favourites against the Highlanders and lost.
This time, with a resolute defence and the tactical astuteness of fly-half Beauden Barrett, Boyd's side made no mistake.
"I couldn't have faced another loss at home," a relieved Boyd admitted. "It took me, personally, months to get over losing last year's final."
Boyd moulded a champion team this year, which did not concede a try in the play-offs, despite losing World Cup winning centres Ma'a Nonu and Conrad Smith and All Blacks lock Jeremy Thrush at the end of last season.
The perfect rebuild had New Zealand rugby critics adding Boyd's name to the list of possible replacements for Steve Hansen when he steps aside as All Blacks coach after the 2019 World Cup.
"He's just an outstanding rugby coach," Hurricanes chief executive Avan Lee told Radio Sport when confirming Boyd will stay with the club for another two years.
"People talk about all these amazing international rugby coaches around the world, but Chris Boyd, I have so much respect for him as a guy and as a coach."
Boyd deflected any praise of himself to the team.
"This side developed a great character and a great attitude amongst themselves," he said.
"We've had good self belief and good self trust and it's carried us a long way."
