Vern Cotter reportedly set to take reigns of the Blues

The Blues have reportedly found their Leon MacDonald successor, in the form of Vern Cotter.

The appointment, reported by 1News, would complete the restructure of all three Super Rugby coaching groups which were impacted by the formation of the 2024 All Blacks coaching group.

Cotter, a former Scotland and Fiji head coach, has amassed championship hardware in France’s Top 14 and flirted with further trophies in the Heineken Cup.

Cotter was a part of the Crusaders’ coaching set-up in 2005 when his predecessor, Leon MacDonald, was playing fullback for the Canterbury side.

The 61-year-old’s coaching career started 20 years ago with Bay of Plenty.

The Blues’ full coaching changes are yet to be determined, but their squad will go through significant change in 2024.

Nine players are set to leave the club next season as the dawn of a new Rugby World Cup cycle arises. That turnover includes four All Blacks; Beauden Barrett, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Nepo Laulala and Alex Hodgeman.

If Cotter is to be named Blues head coach, the former forwards coach has some sizable holes in the starting XV to address. Although the significant talent pool of the Auckland region will no doubt lend a helping hand.

Each of the Super Rugby Pacific clubs will face similar challenges, and the Hurricanes and Crusaders each have new coaching staff of their own for the 2024 season, after the appointment of Scott Robertson and Jason Holland to All Blacks duties along with MacDonald.

The Hurricanes locked in All Blacks Sevens coach Clark Laidlaw to lead their next era, which will be without Ardie Savea and Dane Coles.

The Crusaders have enlisted the services of Rob Penney, who has big boots to fill and will be without the assistance of Sam Whitelock, Richie Mo’unga, Leicester Fainga’anuku and likely Jack Goodhue.