The Highlanders have secured some of the best young talent in the region.
Now they have signed a kaumatua to help squeeze the best out of the man charged with leading the club to Super Rugby glory.
Boyd has inked a one-year deal and was was looking forward to working with the coaching group.
"Clarke is a good man and an impressive coach with a willingness to learn," Boyd said in a press release.
"There aren’t many people who understand the Highlanders’ DNA better than Clarke, having played and coached for the club.
"My role will be about listening to the coaching group and working out where I can add value".
He certainly has value to add. Boyd has coached at every level from club rugby to international rugby.
He started out with Tawa and spent the best part of a decade with the Wellington club before he was appointed assistant coach of the Wellington NPC team in 2003.
He had four seasons with the Lions before moving on to Durban, where he was an assistant coach of the Sharks from 2006 to 2008.
In the years following his return to New Zealand he worked as coaching services adviser and assisted the Tongan national team at the 2011 World Cup.
He was appointed head coach of Wellington in 2011 and led the New Zealand under-20 side from 2012 to 2014.
He got a big break in 2015 when he was appointed Hurricanes head coach.
Highlanders fans will remember that year well. Boyd steered the Hurricanes into the final but the Highlanders claimed a 21-14 victory.
The Hurricanes returned to the final the following year and beat South African side the Lions 20-3.
He left the Hurricanes in 2018 and took on the role of director of rugby at the Northampton Saints. More success followed.
The Saints won the Premiership Rugby Cup in his inaugural season.
Boyd has a lot to offer and Dermody is eager to learn.
"I knew from the moment I accepted the head coach role I wanted to surround myself with as many quality people as I could," Dermody said.
"In terms of quality, you don’t get much better than Chris. His experience and abilities are obvious in what he has already achieved in rugby, and I’m delighted he has come on board for 2023. To have his support in my first year as head coach of the Highlanders is outstanding."
Earlier this week the Highlanders announced they had signed five of the region’s best young talent.
New Zealand and Highlanders under-20 players Cameron Millar, Jake Te Hiwi, Oliver Haig and Hayden Michaels and Otago halfback Nathan Hastie inked three-year deals, which begin in 2024.
The Highlanders have not always recruited well but have lifted their game. Adding Boyd is another sign the club realises it needs to do more than just sign promising players — it has to nurture that talent as well.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark said Boyd’s "vast experience will be a great influence for Clarke and his coaching group".
"We are fortunate to have a coach of Chris Boyd’s stature to fill the role of coaching mentor, which in the past has been done on an informal basis by another outstanding coach, Tony Gilbert," Clark said.
