Head coach Aaron Mauger's tenure with Super Rugby's Highlanders is over.
The Dunedin-based franchise has chosen not to offer the former All Black second-five an extension on his three-year contract, which expired at the end of this season.
The 39-year-old was philosophical about his departure, saying that while he'd enjoyed his time with the side, he realises their relative lack of success ultimately falls on his own shoulders.
The Highlanders were knocked out at the quarter-final stage in Mauger's first two years in charge. They'd won just one of five games when COVID-19 struck Super Rugby, then finished fourth in the revised Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.
"Results are key to proving the quality of the structures you have put in place as a head coach," Mauger says.
"As our onfield results during my tenure haven’t been at the level we've all aspired to, it’s the head coach who must take responsibility for that.
"I've worked with some top-quality people who are outstanding at what they do and I wish them all the best going forward.
"Some real progress has been made in critical areas to aid future success and I'm confident the club will benefit from this down the track."
In 2018, Mauger joined the Highlanders, after a successful stint with the English Premiership's Leicester Tigers.
Highlanders chief executive Roger Clark has thanked Mauger for his contribution, insisting he’s worked hard over the last three years to move the club forward.
"Aaron has focused on improving and developing players, and in that regard, he can be very proud of his efforts," Clark says.
"We thank him for everything he has done for the club. As a young coach with a long career ahead, we wish him and his family all the best for the next chapter of his coaching career."
The Highlanders will take some time to review their coaching structure, before making a decision on a new appointment.
"We have a little bit of time before we need to make a final decision on our coaching structure for 2021," he says.
"Over the next short period, we will be reviewing our coaching structure, and who and how many we add to our current group will depend on availability and our desire to get the balance of our coaching group right."
Assistant coach Tony Brown is likely the leading candidate for promotion to the position.
