Warren Gatland may have been contracted as Chiefs head coach for another two seasons, but Newshub can reveal he himself approached the franchise about restructuring the coaching set-up.
Gatland will shift from his role as head coach to the newly created director of rugby - with Clayton McMillan remaining the side's head coach for 2022, as the Chiefs look to continue the strides made this year.
McMillan took the Chiefs from winless in Super Rugby Aotearoa in 2020 to the final a year later.
Franchise chief executive Michael Collins tells Newshub the restructure was about catering for two elite-level coaches.
"How do we find a role where we can complement each other and we can get the best out of them for the club?" Collins says.
Gatland was supposed to resume duties after his year off to coach the British & Irish Lions, but will instead move to a director role, with McMillan staying on as head coach, after filling in as an interim this year.
"It was Warren that questioned it," says Collins. "Clayton had been doing a really good job and [Gatland] asked if Clayton should continue in that role."
As far as homecomings go, Gatland's return to the Chiefs last year was dire.
His side failed to notch a win in Super Rugby Aotearoa, and now both he and McMillan agree the change is best for the franchise.
"In 2-3 years, if a large number of this group can stay together, they will be able to do something pretty special," Gatland says.
But Newshub understands Gatland began to lose the dressing room in 2020, as his focus moved to the Lions, and keeping McMillan at the helm was widely acknowledged as the best way to continue their success from this year.
"I did consult with Sam Cane," says Collins. "I consulted with him on moving Warren into the director role, and he could see the benefit of doing that and retaining Clayton as head coach."
And McMillan's vision is clear - success.
"I really believe that there's an opportunity to create a legacy for the Chiefs."
