Tabai Matson has confirmed he fielded an approach to join the Blues next year but says he is committed to the Crusaders.
Blues coach Sir John Kirwan, in a recent presentation to the board to save his job, put forward an ambitious plan to bring Matson to the franchise next year, with a view to grooming the Cantabrian for the head coach role in 2017.
But the Crusaders appear to have move swiftly to counter, with assistant coach Matson saying he wanted nothing more than to help the Crusaders towards the playoffs this season and that he was sorry about any unnecessary distraction the speculation around his future has caused.
I love this team and I certainly was not out looking for a new coaching role because I am very happy here. It is true that I was approached by the Blues about whether I would consider a move to their coaching team in the future should the opportunity arise. Aside from those initial discussions, nothing further in the way of any formal offer was considered. I made the decision not to take those discussions any further because I am committed to the Crusaders," Matson said.
"I want to unequivocally assure my Crusaders colleagues, the players and our supporters that I am still as committed to this team as I was at the start of the season, that my heart is still fully in this and that I am looking forward to helping this team go as far as it can go over the remaining weeks of this exciting and close competition."
Crusaders chief executive Hamish Riach welcomed Matson's statement and appeared to shut the door on any potential move next year.