Mains had been coaching in South Africa but returned to Dunedin in 2001 to take on Otago and then was quickly installed as the Highlanders coach. This was when the Highlanders were a real force in the competition - they had made the semifinals in three of the previous four years.
In the first year in charge in 2002, Mains guided the side through to the semifinals before it lost to the eventual winners, the Crusaders.
The following year, the side made a promising start but, after a trip to South Africa, talk surfaced about disharmony among the team members.
With four rounds left, the Highlanders looked to be in a prime position to make the semifinals.
But they failed to get over the line, losing three of those games, including a very disappointing performance against New South Wales at Carisbrook.
After the season ended, the drama all floated to the surface: secret meetings, letters to the board, and player dissatisfaction. A report was written for the Highlanders board, but its contents were never revealed.
Mains had quit at the end of the season, and Highlanders chief executive John Hornbrook said a letter penned by the players painted a "concentration camp" sort of climate.
Hornbrook soon left the franchise, while Highlanders board chairman Colin Weatherall also departed, though well after Mains had moved on.
In his autobiography in 2005, Oliver said Mains was a controlling coach, who dictated what players could do and eat.
Oliver denied he was a ringleader rebelling against the coach, but said there were many players - both senior and junior - who had had enough of Mains' coaching and if Mains did not leave, there would be a mass walkout by players.
Mains disputed much of what was said, and pointed to his coaching record.
He has never publicly commented on what happened, and settled any disagreement with the NZRU.
