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Jono Gibbes clears speculation after joining Waikato
By Online Editors
It seems Jono Gibbes is locked in with Waikato, despite speculation he could jump ship after a visit to French club La Rochelle.
Gibbes featured in a social media post from Waikato Rugby, standing alongside assistant coaches and fellow ex-Mooloos Nathan White and Roger Randle.
The eight-Test All Black announced in March that he was leaving Ulster at the end of the PRO14 season, and was announced as Waikato's new head coach shortly after.
Gibbes replaces Sean Botherway at Waikato, who resigned after leading the province through one of their worst seasons where they notched just two wins and were relegated from the Premiership division of the competition.
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Despite Gibbes' announced allegiance with Waikato in March, questions were asked when he paid Top 14 side La Rochelle - who have a vacancy at head coach - a visit just days before Ulster's Champions Cup playoff match against Ospreys.
Gibbes was questioned over the visit, asked whether it compromised preparations for the playoff match and whether it left a 'sour taste' in his relationship with Ulster.
The 41-year-old had cited wanting to head home with family as a reason for his resignation from the club.
Earlier in the month, Waikato Rugby Union CEO Blair Foote had told Fairfax he had been in talks with Gibbes and that "if something has changed between now and then, we don't know about that."
Gibbes and Waikato are set to kick off their 2018 Mitre 10 Cup campaign on August 18 against Manawatu.
Gibbes represented the province 64 times between 2000 and 2007.
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Latest Comments
There is a continued murmur in local circles about reciprocal bi annual tours between SA and Argentine. Whether it's full blooded test tours or development tours or a mixture - ie touring with a "test" 20 and a development 20 the cream of which will be used in tests. We actually really enjoy playing the Argies and I believe they enjoy playing us. It goes back seventy years to the Junior Bok tours to Argentine involving Isaac van Heerden.
Go to commentsDon't think you've watched enough. I'll take him over anything I's seen so far. But let's see how the future pans out. I'm quietly confident we have a row of 10's lined uo who would each start in many really good teams.
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