One of the worst-kept secrets in rugby was confirmed yesterday - Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph is Japan-bound.
His departure from the Highlanders at the end of the Super rugby season was confirmed at a press conference fronted by Joseph and Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark at the team's base in Dunedin.
Joseph, who lived in Japan for eight years and played nine tests for Japan, will coach the Cherry Blossoms through until at least the end of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
The 46-year-old former All Black said he came close to re-signing from the Highlanders last year, before he was approached by Japan.
"My focus here was on the Highlanders and there was an opportunity for me to extend that,'' he said.
"It was really only down to holidays as to why I didn't sign that contract. Then all of a sudden, just prior to Christmas, I was approached by the Japanese Rugby Union. That set me spinning mentally.
"It was good to get away from footy for a couple of weeks over the Christmas holiday to have a think about it. It was tough times, but at the end of it my wife and I decided this would be the best for our family.''
While his departure is a blow to the franchise, he will at least get a shot at guiding the team to consecutive Super rugby titles in his sixth and final year in charge.
He and his family will move to Tokyo when the Highlanders' Super 18 campaign ends in either July or August.
Despite Japan playing two tests against Scotland during the June test window, Joseph said that he would not be involved with the team then.
"I'm contracted to the Highlanders. It was a talking point with the Japanese Rugby Union,'' he said.
"My answer is that I'm committed right to the end with the Highlanders. If I was going to do it justice and show the integrity that I'm passionate about with the Highlanders, then I couldn't be involved with another team.''
It is not yet known who the caretaker coach for those two tests will be.
After more than a month of speculation that Joseph was leaving the Highlanders, the former Wellington and Maori All Blacks coach was relieved the deal was now public.
He has aspirations to coach the All Blacks in the future and said heading to Japan was another step up the coaching ladder.
"It's another challenge,'' he said.
"I feel you never leave a job satisfied and this has been one of the best jobs I have had and it's really hard to leave.''
Joseph said he would "love'' to coach the All Blacks in the future, and used coach Steve Hansen as an example when discussing his future.
"He went away to Wales and got some experience at that level. That's at the back of my mind. But you have to be worthy to coach the best team in the world and this is another step and another opportunity and chance for me,'' he said.
The decision to leave the Highlanders was "the toughest'' decision Joseph has had to make in his coaching career, and he said it felt as if he was deserting the players.
Joseph joined the team after it finished dead last in 2010, but had to wait until 2014 before guiding the team to its first playoff appearance since 2002.
The overdue playoff appearance came a year after many were calling for him to be sacked, after a star-laden team finished 14th in 2013.
He then guided the franchise to its maiden title last season, the final season the competition consisted of 15 teams.
"When [Clark] and I turned up at the end of 2010, there were eight contracted players, we were dead last in the table, it was difficult to get players and our budget was half of what everyone else had at the time,'' Joseph said.
"The franchise gave us an opportunity to get our team right. I guess the pleasing part of that is we have identified some good players that have gone on to be really good All Blacks.''
Regardless of who takes over from Joseph next season, he said the franchise would be in a good position.
He wished it had been done earlier, but he praised the fact the Highlanders now had private investors who were proactive about building a bright future.
Clark said it was disappointing the team could not retain Joseph, but understood his reasons for leaving.
"We couldn't have asked anymore from Jamie over the six years ... a lot has been achieved at the Highlanders in that time,'' he said.
"To do what Jamie has done, to set up the systems and the people he has, and also to deliver a championship to the club, is very impressive and we couldn't ask for more.''
