Glasgow Warriors | Gibson leaves for the Crusaders
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July 23, 2008

Gibson leaves for the Crusaders

Posted by Editor on July 23, 2008 09:31 AM | 13 comments | Print | E-mail author

Daryl Gibson has left Glasgow for Canterbury Crusaders
Glasgow's Daryl Gibson has joined Canterbury Crusaders as assistant coach to Todd Blackadder.

Gibson and Blackadder were unveiled today alongside Mark Hammett, another former Crusaders team-mate, as the new coaches to take over from Robbie Deans, the new Australia coach.

Gibson joined Glasgow as a player coach at the start of last season. He represented the Crusaders in 78 games from 1996 to 2002. He also played 19 Test matches for the All Blacks between 1999 and 2002. Gibson played for Bristol in the English Premiership in 2002-2003 before joining the Leicester Tigers from 2003-2007.

On his decision to leave Glasgow, Gibson told glasgowwarriors.org: "I'm very grateful for the experience I've gained at Glasgow. I've learnt a lot in my year here.

"I've been made to feel very welcome by all the players, staff and supporters and I'd like to say a special thank you to those who have helped my family with the arrival of our triplets.

"Pre-season preparations have been going well and I believe Glasgow have very good prospects for next season."

Commenting about his new position which will see him take charge of the Crusaders' back division, Gibson added: "This job hasn't come up in the last ten years so it is a huge opportunity for me to coach my first professional club.

"Also the desire to return home to New Zealand with my young family was a major pull."

Daryl will remain in Glasgow and be available for selection until further details of his departure have been confirmed.

Posted by shrewdobserver on July 23, 2008 09:54 AM | Reply to this comment

Yet another example of an overseas player coming over to Scotland on a good contract, bumping up his pension, cutting his teeth on the coaching front and then heading back to his homeland to reap the benefits! Can Scots players/coaches do the same? No chance! When will this country realise that not everyone with a NZ accent is necessarily God's gift to rugby?

Posted by Alan Patterson on July 23, 2008 01:42 PM | Reply to this comment

On the bright side, Daryl has put in some good performances and has strengthened the coaching set up.

Plus there will be 3 more Scotland qualified nippers who will have good coaching from an early age. Only snag is we have a 20 year lead in time!

All the best in your new role, Daryl.

Posted by Scott on July 23, 2008 04:44 PM | Reply to this comment

It's an open market - nothing wrong with what's happened, and Dazza seems like a good bloke. Despite this, I do feel we need a hungry talent to come in at 12, and both Gibson and Muffles seemed to be a bit tired last season.

Who else do we have in the squad for inside centre? Sean will have to go on the hunt....

Posted by Scott on July 23, 2008 04:47 PM | Reply to this comment

..oh yeah, how could I forget G-Dog - that's OK then. Morrison and Hef at 12 & 13? Mmmmm...

Posted by ballinj on July 23, 2008 05:02 PM | Reply to this comment

Good luck to Daryl - don't blame him for the switch, hell of a jump to go from Glasgow to the Crusaders.

Still I was worried about the shortage of centres after Scott left now it could be downright troublesome. Mind you might give Sean the excuse to try Colin or Max at outside centre again.

Posted by Finbar on July 23, 2008 05:06 PM | Reply to this comment

THis has "Marcus Di Rollo" stamped all over it...

Posted by Mediumsizedal on July 23, 2008 05:50 PM | Reply to this comment

We won't miss him-probably M.Evans/Morrison best combination, but we also have Henderson/O'Hare-we still have 4 good centres (although there is always room for a better one!!).

Posted by hannah on July 23, 2008 06:57 PM | Reply to this comment

Di Rollo has just confirmed that he had left his French club and he doesnt have one for next season.....please no :( we wouldnt get him would we?

Posted by Moody Blue on July 23, 2008 09:08 PM | Reply to this comment

Listen, Marcus rarely cut the mustard at international level but he was solid enough for Edinburgh to interest Toulouse in the first place....so if he did come to Glasgow it wouldn't be the disaster people are imagining. And presumably he would be very hungry to prove to Toulouse among others that he is not a spent force. Edinburgh seem to be snapping up every bit of Scottish talent going - 38 out of their squad of 40 are Scottish qualified -Glasgow need to get into that market and get some young Scottish backs on board to back up, Max, G-Dog, Muffles etc...Ben Addison and Chris Kinloch are in the Senior Academy; Paul Loudon at Durham Uni; Garry Law in Italy; Joe Ansbro at Northampton; Jack Cuthbert at Bath - all young and Scottish qualified. Might be worth a punt on one or two of them.

Posted by Hugues on July 23, 2008 09:58 PM | Reply to this comment

Maybe Moody Blue,
But Toulouse was interested to have a guy to replace an injured player, they've got 3 elite teams.
What is ambrassing, is that a Scottish International (MDL in this example) did not reach the level to play for Toulouse.

This is a problem, big teams like Toulouse have enough money to pay a fortune to have "big names" on the bench.

Posted by SpiderPig on July 23, 2008 11:10 PM | Reply to this comment

Glasgow or Crusaders? I know where I would go!! Good luck Daryl you have been great for us, dont listen to these arm chair critics who have probably never played a game of rugby before.

Posted by shrewdobserver on July 24, 2008 10:13 AM | Reply to this comment

A bit disparaging, Spider Pig, to generalise about the people who pass comment on the forum as 'arm-chair' critics. If you count my original comment as coming from such a person then my armchair will be getting pretty wet through exposure to the elements as a result of my participation in rugby! The original comment was not intended as any criticism of Daryl Gibson, but more a statement on where Scottish players coming to the end of their careers or existing coaches who are given little or no opportunities to develop due to the existence of a hard core of SRU development officers or former DO's who have established little niches for themselves and a few select others. Throw in a few players and coaches who have come over from particularly NZ and you have a closed shop. Believe me there are plenty of times when I wish I had been born in Christchurch and not Glasgow ( from a rugby perspective!)

Posted by The Badger on July 25, 2008 12:33 PM | Reply to this comment

Re:Di Rollo - how bad can it be? This is a player who's talent is so hot that he has to wear gloves......

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