Carlos Spencer has been released from his role as assistant coach at the Hurricanes as the club responds to the financial pressure of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a report by One News in New Zealand, Spencer will not be a part of the Hurricanes coaching staff for the rest of the Super Rugby Aotearoa season after being released from his contract effective immediately on financial grounds.

A statement from the Hurricanes said that ‘due to the financial uncertainty created by Covid-19, we have agreed he [Spencer] will finish his contract early’.

The club was keen to stress that Spencer’s release was in no way indicative of his coaching abilities or his relationship with the Hurricanes squad.

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The former All Blacks flyhalf – who has also coached at the Lions, Sharks and Kings – was brought into the Hurricanes coaching unit under former head coach John Plumtree in 2019. Plumtree left the Hurricanes in December 2019 to take up a role with the All Blacks and was replaced by Jason Holland.

Spencer’s departure does leave the Hurricanes a bit threadbare in terms of senior coaching experience.

Holland is halfway into his very first year as head coach, while forwards coach Chris Gibbes has previously coached at a provincial level and also had a stint as an assistant at the Ospreys.

The Hurricanes did bring former player Cory Jane into their coaching staff this year as their defence coach, but he has coached only six months at this level.

The Hurricanes are winless after the first three rounds of Super Rugby Aotearoa and next face the Chiefs, also without a win, in Hamilton on Sunday.

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