Chiefs and All Blacks loose forward Luke Jacobson is welcoming the change at his Super Rugby side, seeing Warren Gatland return as director of rugby from 2022 onwards.
Having taken the 2021 season off to complete his contractual duties with the British & Irish Lions, Gatland's return loomed as a potential headache for the Chiefs heading into the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific next year.
In Gatland's absence, coach Clayton McMillan led the Chiefs to the final of Super Rugby Aotearoa, completing a comeback for the side that finished bottom of the first iteration of the tournament in 2020 - losing all eight matches.
But that headache has been solved, with Gatland to move into a more senior director role, allowing McMillan to keep his position as the team's head coach, the Chiefs confirmed this week.
While the Chiefs are losing the nous of Gatland, who boasts lengthy success with Wales and the Lions, that experience will now filter down to McMillan, as the Waikato side bid for their first title since 2013.
Having played under both Gatland and McMillan, Jacobson spoke highly of the move, backing the Chiefs for future success.
"The future's really bright at the Chiefs," Jacobson says.
"They're making some good moves to try and set up for the future. To be able to hold on to Gats [Gatland] and have Clayton there as well, I think, is a huge bonus for us.
"Obviously, Clayton did some bloody good stuff with us last [season], and the boys really thrived off him. It's going to be awesome to have Gats back overseeing and a bit of a mentor for all of them.
"It's exciting to see - hopefully - what we can do over the next few years… It is exciting."
