The Otago assistant coach will not actually be packing down in the front row, but the 37-year-old has signed with the Hurricanes as the set piece coach and will be making the move to the capital for the Super Rugby season.
The former All Black prop will mostly be responsible for making sure the scrum functions well, but he will also chip in with some lineout tips.
He spotted the job online after returning from a coaching stint in the United States this year and sent in his CV.
"I’d heard cool things about the coaching staff at the Hurricanes ... and I really enjoyed going through the process," Mackintosh said.
Hurricanes coach Jason Holland and assistant Chris Gibbes flew south to interview him and the admiration was mutual.
Mackintosh, who was born in Tokonui, made his debut for Southland aged 19 and went on to make 123 appearances for his province. He also squeezed in seven games for Otago at the tail end of his playing career.
There was a lot of rugby in-between as well. He played more than 60 games for the Highlanders and had a couple of seasons with the Chiefs.
He had playing stints with Montpellier, Ohio Aviators, Pau and the Austin Gilgronis.
Mackintosh joined the Otago staff three years ago, initially as the scrum coach. He has been the forwards coach for the past two years.
"I’ve still got a lot to learn as far as my coaching goes, but I think I’ve got a fair bit to give as well.
"My process with Otago has been an amazing journey and I’m really appreciative of Tom [Donnelly, head coach] giving me the opportunity.
"What my role means with the Hurricanes currently is I can come back and coach with Otago, which is really exciting."
Whether he will come back or not is still up in the air. Otago is "right in the middle of a crucial part" of its season, so those decisions have not been made.
But Mackintosh is keen to continue developing as a coach.
"It would be lovely to come back next year. Otago has a really exciting coaching group which operates at a really good level and I’m learning heaps."
The man they call Whoppa has an impressive list of coaching mentors.
"I’ve been fortunate to be taught by some really influential people during my career.
"I started off at high school with Peter Skelt and my relationship with David Henderson and Simon Culhane [at the Stags] was a really special one.
"And with the Highlanders I learned a lot from Jamie Joseph and ... at the Chiefs I was so lucky to take in Dave Rennie, Wayne Smith and Tom Coventry."
Holland is confident Mackintosh will make a positive impact in his new role.
“We have chatted at length with Jamie regarding his philosophy to the game and in particular forward play," Holland said.
"We’re confident he will add massive value to our coaching group, as he has done with Otago in the last few seasons."
