Championship winning coach Jamie Joseph is returning to the Highlanders on a four-year deal as the Super Rugby franchise’s new head of rugby.

Joseph’s new role involves leading the entire Highlanders rugby programme, including recruitment and retention of players, supporting the coaching group and mentoring head coach Clarke Dermody.

Joseph first joined the Highlanders as head coach in 2011 from Wellington where he coached the capital city side to their first Ranfurly Shield win in 26 years.

In 2015 he famously led the Highlanders to it’s one and only championship victory, before moving to Japan to lead the Brave Blossoms World Cup programme in 2017.

The 2019 World Cup in Japan was a phenomenal success under his guidance and the home team captured the imagination of rugby followers around the world and ignited the tournament for the hosts.

Playing a fast-paced, high-skilled style of rugby that delivered a quarterfinals spot for the first time in their history, while taking victories against Ireland and Scotland along the way, before falling to the eventual World Cup Champions, South Africa, in the quarter-final.

Joseph is looking forward to a return to his hometown.