Jeff Wilson will collect plenty of air miles next year as he juggles jobs as North Harbour assistant coach and supportive netball husband.
Wilson (35) was named yesterday as the new assistant coach of North Harbour, teaming up with former All Black prop Craig Dowd.
Wilson also confirmed yesterday he had not applied for the Otago coaching position.
The former double international said he had bumped into Dowd (39) at an International Rugby Academy course earlier this year, when both were coaching.
He said they discovered the former All Black team-mates shared the same philosophies on how to play the game and run a team.
Dowd, North Harbour rugby development manager before deciding to pursue the North Harbour coaching job, asked Wilson to come aboard.
Wilson acknowledged the duo were not that experienced but had been involved in professional rugby right from when it started, and the union was looking for fresh ideas.
The position was highly sought after, with 24 coaches applying.
Wilson said he would probably spend every second week in North Harbour, with the other week in Invercargill when the netball season was in full swing.
Former Silver Ferns captain Adine Wilson is planning on making a comeback for the Southern Steel in next year's ANZ Championship.
Wilson said in reality the new job was not full-time and, with his background as a professional player, he was used to travelling.
"It will be tough at times. But we are prepared for it. That is what you have to do. This is a step towards the future," Wilson said.
"Luckily, I have a lot of family in Invercargill who are very happy and willing to help out."
He said at most the arrangement would last three months, until the netball competition finished.
Wilson, who played 64 games for Otago, 71 for the All Blacks and 72 for the Highlanders, said he did not apply for the Otago coaching job, due to timing.
He was focused on the North Harbour job before the Otago job was advertised so could not change that commitment.
Wilson joined the Otago union in 2006, and was appointed director of rugby later that year, but he resigned from that role in November last year.
He said yesterday the job with Otago was becoming more of a administrative-type job, while he wanted to get into coaching.
Dowd, who played 60 tests for the All Blacks, and Wilson have signed three-year contracts.
Wilson said success would not come overnight, but he was looking forward to plenty of hard work.
North Harbour finished 12th in this year's Air New Zealand Cup.
