New Zealand Super Rugby franchise the Highlanders announced former All Blacks centre Aaron Mauger will join as an assistant coach next year, a month after being sacked by Leicester Tigers.
Mauger, who played for the Crusaders for seven seasons, will join forwards coach Mark Hammett, and defensive coach Scott McLeod in Dunedin.
"I'm absolutely thrilled to be joining the Highlanders next season," Mauger said. "The club have worked extremely hard over the last four to five years in particular to create an environment that allows the people and the team to perform at their best and to the highest levels.
"I feel very privileged to be joining the club and to be in a position on the coaching staff where I can help add to the fantastic structure put in place and help grow the team and club to achieve future success."
Mauger is set to return to New Zealand with his family in late July and will be hoping to help them back retain the Super Rugby title they last won back in 2015 under Jamie Joseph.
Joseph left to take over Japan and current Highlanders head coach Tony Brown will join him as an assistant, with the franchise yet to name a replacement.
"I like what the Highlanders stand for, I know we are going to a family orientated club and that was a critical factor for us when making our decision," Mauger said.
"As a family we had lots of discussions with some key people to assure ourselves us that the Highlanders and the city of Dunedin would be the perfect place for Amy and I to bring our family and for me to continue growing as a person and as a coach."