Former Otago, Highlanders and All Blacks loose forward Adam Thomson is joining the Chiefs Manawa as an assistant coach in Super Rugby Aupiki.
He will join a familiar face in incumbent assistant Carla Hohepa, the former Otago and Black Ferns winger.
Former Tonga, Chiefs and Hawke’s Bay prop Sona Taumalolo will also join the staff under head coach Dwayne Sweeney.
Chief executive Simon Graafhuis said the Chiefs were pleased to have Thomson, who also played for the Chiefs, and Taumalolo joining the squad.
"We are thrilled to have Sona and Adam return to the club as coaches for our Chiefs Manawa.
"The door is always open to our past players, and we are glad to have coaches of their calibre come back to contribute to the club in other ways after their on-field careers.
"It will be an exciting season for our Super Rugby Aupiki team with both a star-studded coaching team and playing group."
Thomson, 42, played 67 games for the Highlanders between 2006 and 2012, and 29 tests for the All Blacks as a representative of the Otago University club.
He also played Super Rugby for the Rebels and the Reds.
After moving to Hamilton for an opportunity with the Chiefs in 2020, Thomson played a season for Waikato before hanging up the boots.
Turning his focus to coaching, he took on an assistant coach role with Waikato’s NPC team alongside Sweeney.
"I’m excited to join Dwayne Sweeney’s coaching team at the Chiefs Manawa in 2025," Thomson said.
"He’s an exceptional head coach, driven to enhance the jersey of the Manawa and shows deep care for his players, staff, and team environment."
It was an honour to be a part of his vision, Thomson said.
Taumalolo made his Chiefs debut in 2009, was part of the 2012 championship-winning side and played a total of 52 games for the club before heading overseas to play in France.
Born in Tonga, he represented his home country for 22 games, as well as the Barbarians and the World XV on the international stage. He is also the uncle of former Chiefs prop Ben Tameifuna.
"I am grateful to be back with this great club that means so much to me," Taumalolo said.
• Former Matatu head coach Blair Baxter is returning to the Super Rugby Aupiki team as an assistant coach for the 2025 season.
Baxter, who coached Matatu in 2022 and 2023, when they won the Aupiki title, spent the past season working with the Chinese women’s sevens team as they prepared to qualify for the Paris Olympics.
Baxter will support head coach Whitney Hansen, who was an assistant when Baxter was at the helm, and joins other assistants Simon Kneebone and Jason Kjestrup. — RNZ/APL
