Matt Saunders: 'I think I’m way more equipped now'

Matt Saunders has stepped in to coach the Southland Stags with his former Stags team mate Kane Thompson also joining him.

Matt Saunders, left, has joined James Wilson as Stags co-coaches in 2024 assisted by Kane Thompson and Daryl Thompson. Photo: DEBBIE FAHEY

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Matt Saunders believes he will be better equipped now to take on an NPC coaching gig following his stint away from rugby in the retail world.

Saunders will join James Wilson as co-coaches of the Stags for the 2024 NPC campaign. It followed a review of its 2023 NPC campaign which called for change.

The pair’s former Stags teammate Kane Thompson will also join Southland this year as an assistant to further bolster the coaching resources.

Saunders, who played Super Rugby for the Highlanders, was last year appointed Rugby Southland’s director of rugby.

He oversees its high-performance programme which includes player and coach development.

While Saunders did attend all of the Stags’ trainings last year Wilson and David Hall were the team’s joint head coaches.

They were assisted by Daryl Thompson, who is also staying on this year.

Following a review of the 2023 NPC season, where Southland won just one game, it was decided change was needed.

While some potential homegrown Southland coaching options continue to be developed, it was decided Saunders will step in and take on a more hands-on role with the Stags.

He will also continue with his director of rugby duties.

“We do have a lot of upcoming coaches that we are developing,” Saunders said.

The other option at this point - if Saunders hadn’t added the coaching job to his role - would have been to recruit another head coach from outside the province, which there was a reluctance to do.

Saunders has effectively replaced Hall in the coaching setup with Hall moving into a coach education job at Rugby Southland as part of its community rugby team.

Saunders looked destined to coach the Stags when he emerged as a promising coach during his time as Rugby Southland’s academy manager which he departed in 2017. He coached Pirates-Old Boys and Southland B.

But Saunders has taken a longer and unexpected route to now end up as an NPC coach.

It has included time away from rugby when he owned and ran the Four Square supermarket in Tapanui.

He felt because of that he was in a better position now compared to when he was initially talked about as a Stags coaching contender.

“Back then Hoani [Macdonald] had taken over [as Stags coach] and it didn’t feel like I was ready.

“It felt like I needed to get out of footy for a bit and do something else, and then the shop popped up and away I went.”

Saunders returned to rugby when he spotted the newly created Rugby Southland director of rugby role advertised last year and he made a successful pitch to fill the position.

At that point, it wasn’t his intention to coach the Stags, but when the coaching shakeup was called for, he decided to step in.

“I think I’m way more equipped now [to coach] after being in the shop than if I had just stayed on the rugby path.

“I’ve got a bit of catching up to do, and have in the last year, on some rugby stuff. But I’m pretty much there, so I’m pretty confident we can do a good job.

“I’ve said it a thousand times to people, every Super Rugby player that’s played four or five years is probably equipped technically and tactically.

“But the hard part is the people management, and the management of time, and it crosses over a lot [from business] with staff and players. It’s taught me a lot.”

Saunders will oversee the defence, Wilson the attack, with Daryl Thompson in charge of the scrum and maul defence, and Kane Thompson will take the lead on the lineout and maul attack.

Thompson played 35 games for Southland with his first stint from 2005 to 2007, before returning for a second go in the maroon jersey in 2010.

He played 33 tests for Samoa and is currently the forwards and defence coach of the New Orleans Gold in Major League Rugby.

Rugby Southland CEO Steve Mitchell was pleased to lock in someone like Kane Thompson to bolster the Stags coaching group.

“The vision of having good people with an engrained connection to Southland lead and coach this team is key. Kane’s leadership and experience will be a great addition as we all strive towards success in the upcoming season and beyond,” Mitchell said.

Kane Thompson will join the Stags coaching group at the conclusion of the MLR season.